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11 Facts about HIV/AIDS Around the World

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that infects the cells of the immune system lessening its ability to fight off other infections and diseases.
HIV can be transmitted several ways:
- Unprotected sexual activity
- Transmission of infected blood
- Sharing of infected needles or other sharp instruments
- From a mother to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding
34 million people live with HIV worldwide.
HIV is the world’s leading infectious killer.
About 25 million people have died from HIV since it’s discovery in 1981. Roughly 1.7 million died of HIV/AIDS in 2011 alone.
Of the 3.34 million children living with HIV, most (about 97 percent) live in sub-Saharan Africa and were infected by their HIV-positive mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
1 in 5 Americans living with HIV are unaware they are infected.
Gay and bisexual men of all races are the most radically affected by HIV in the U.S.
Most people living with or at risk of contracting HIV do not have access to prevention, care, or treatment. As of 2013, there is no cure for the virus.
Many of the countries hardest hit by HIV also suffer from other infectious diseases (like AIDS and malaria), food insecurity, and lack of proper water and sanitation.
Every 9.5 minutes someone is diagnosed with HIV the the U.S.