The disease may have begun in this simple, quiet manner, spreading to others from this point through sexual intercourse and shared needle use. We want to note that many African government representatives are sensitive about this view, understandably, since it is often set forth in a manner that seems to blame Africa for the appearance of the virus. While scientific events are not themselves racist, observations and reporting of them may be so. It is important to remember that no one person, nation or population is responsible for the development of AIDS, and we must all share the responsibility of stopping the spread of the virus. Usually, persons with ARC lead active, productive lives, having only mild symptoms that don't normally affect daily activities.
People can also be without any symptoms for extended periods of time.
Studies show some people with ARC may never go on to develop full-blown AIDS, and most do not progress to AIDS within five years. Public health officials estimate that there are between 100,000 and 200,000 persons with ARC in the United States. This is the designation which the medical community now uses to refer to the virus. HIV is different from many other viruses. It belongs to a special family of viruses known as retroviruses.