Where Does HIV Come From? Gays? Read on...
Gays Not The Origin of HIV
After 25 years of speculation, an international scientific team
has traced
the origin of HIV
to wild chimpanzees in a remote area of Cameroon, Africa.
The first
human to be infected
with the virus is believed to be a hunter who came into contact (by bite or cut)
with
an infected chimp. In the early 80s, HIV was seen as a gay disease or a "rare cancer
that affected homosexuals" as stated in the documentaryGay Sex in the 70s. So, why is
the link between chimps and HIV an important discovery? In the wake of the AIDS
pandemic, it's crucial that we all realize HIV/AIDS can affect anyone, not just gay people.
And though there is still no cure for AIDS, learning the origin of the deadly virus
may bring
us one step closer to saving countless lives.
Read: International Scientific Team 'Confirms' Chimps Origin Of HIV
Know: How Can I Tell If I Have HIV?
Learn: HIV/AIDS Quick Facts
Live: Living with HIV and AIDS
Blog: Inside Tristin
Talk: "I decided recently that the most responsible and sensible thing to do would be
to get an HIV test. It was my third time gettin tested, but the most nerve-wrecking because
my past experience was the riskiest one I had experienced..."
has traced
the origin of HIV
to wild chimpanzees in a remote area of Cameroon, Africa.
The first
human to be infected
with the virus is believed to be a hunter who came into contact (by bite or cut)
with
an infected chimp. In the early 80s, HIV was seen as a gay disease or a "rare cancer
that affected homosexuals" as stated in the documentaryGay Sex in the 70s. So, why is
the link between chimps and HIV an important discovery? In the wake of the AIDS
pandemic, it's crucial that we all realize HIV/AIDS can affect anyone, not just gay people.
And though there is still no cure for AIDS, learning the origin of the deadly virus
may bring
us one step closer to saving countless lives.
Read: International Scientific Team 'Confirms' Chimps Origin Of HIV
Know: How Can I Tell If I Have HIV?
Learn: HIV/AIDS Quick Facts
Live: Living with HIV and AIDS
Blog: Inside Tristin
Talk: "I decided recently that the most responsible and sensible thing to do would be
to get an HIV test. It was my third time gettin tested, but the most nerve-wrecking because
my past experience was the riskiest one I had experienced..."
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