Information on this page was adapted from the AIDS Fund Philadelphia. AIDS is the second leading cause of death among Americans ages 25-44 One out of every four people who become infected with HIV is under the age of 20. Every day, over 8,000 people , nearly half of them women, are newly infected with HIV . AIDS has become the leading cause of death for African-American men between the ages of 35 and 44 . HIV is not transmitted through casual contact.
People can only become infected if the virus gets into their bloodstream .
Once inside the body, the virus attacks the immune system , leaving the body susceptible to opportunistic infections. Although people are living longer there is still no cure .