Since it was first reported in the United States in 1981, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has become a major worldwide epidemic. AIDS is a devastating disease physically, emotionally, and financially and has grown to be much more dreaded than cancer. AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which kills or impairs cells of the immune system, progressively destroying the body�s ability to fight infections and certain cancers.

HIV is spread most commonly by sexual contact with an infected partner. The virus enters the body through the lining of the vagina, vulva, penis, rectum, or mouth during sex. Worldwide, more than 80% of all adult HIV infections have resulted from heterosexual intercourse. HIV is also spread through contact with infected blood and often was transmitted through transfusions of contaminated blood before HIV blood screening procedures became standard practice. Injection drug users can spread HIV by sharing needles or syringes contaminated with minute quantities of blood of someone infected with the virus.

But it gets worse. In 1993, AIDS killed more young people than did any other infectious disease. Every year, 3 million teenagers acquire a sexually transmitted disease, leaving them more susceptible to HIV infection. Approximately 40,000 new HIV infections occurred in the United States in 1998, 70% among men and 30% among women. Of these newly infected people, half were younger than 25 years of age. Worldwide in 1999, more than 6,500 young people aged 15 to 24 became infected with HIV every day�about 5 every minute. Currently, there are between 10,000 and 20,000 children with HIV in the USA.

Even more frightening is that AIDS is the seventh leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 4 years. Since the start of this epidemic, close to 2.6 million children have been infected with HIV worldwide, and 1.3 million have died. It is estimated that 1,000 young children are infected with HIV each day. Nearly 100% of new HIV infections in children are the result of an HIV-infected pregnant woman passing the virus to her baby either before or during birth, and approximately 47% of the millions of adults living with HIV/AIDS worldwide are women.

Since 1981, more than 600,000 cases of AIDS have been reported in the United States, with the possibility that as many as 900,000 Americans may be infected with HIV. An estimated 13.2 million children younger than age 15 have lost their mothers or both parents since the epidemic began. Worldwide, it is estimated that within the next three years, as many as 10 million children may be infected with HIV, and 3 million children will die from AIDS. Ten to fifteen million children will be orphaned by AIDS.

It goes without saying that there is no good reason to die from AIDS. But with all the heartache and suffering, the children, either infected or orphaned, are often forgotten and sometimes, sadly, even unwanted or unadoptable. If for no other reason, rigorous AIDS research needs to be staunchly supported and never ever questioned.