Draft #2 of Research

Esmeralda Santa

English 21003, Section M

Professor Matyakubova

8 November 2017

Second Draft on Research Paper

                                                 

                                                       Deadliest Epidemic in Modern History

          In 2016, 1 million people died from AIDS-related illnesses worldwide and a reported 36.7 

million people were living with HIV (unaids.com). Since it was first clinically discovered in 1981 

this deadly disease has spread all over the world, affecting all types of people. Human 

immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) occurs in four stages, the deadliest last stage being acquired 

immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV is known as a silent killer because often times a person 

might not know they have the disease until they are far into the AIDS stage. HIV is considered 

deadly because it targets the immune system of people and it weakens their defense against 

infections and other kinds of cancers (World Health Organization).  A person’s immune system is 

very important because it helps fight against infections and microorganisms that try to make us sick. 

Currently, there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but there are treatments available. Despite these treatments 

people believe that the most effective way to protect yourself is using condoms. This concept has 

created controversy for many such as religious leaders who believe using condoms is not effective, 

but people should practice abstinence instead. Since it was first discovered, HIV/AIDS has left a 

lasting turmoil upon mankind. This disease has not only affected the people’s health, but has left a 

hole in their pocket, labeled them as outcasts in society, and forced them to receive backlash from 

media and religious places.

          

            Often times some people believe that HIV and AIDS mean the same thing, but on the 

contrary they are results of each other. HIV is a virus that enters your immune system and destroys 

white blood cells called T-helper cells, while making copies of itself inside the T-helper cells 

(avert.org). This creates a problem because as the virus makes copies of itself, it also destroys the 

immune system. AIDS on the other hand, is not a virus but a set of symptoms caused by the HIV 

virus (avert.org). AIDS is considered the last stage of HIV and it occurs when the immune system is 

just too weak to “fight off the infection and they develop certain defining symptoms and illnesses” 

(avert.org). AIDS is considered the dangerous stage because if a person does not treat it, they will 

die.

           HIV/AIDS can be transmitted in three ways: exposure to infected bodily fluids, from mother 

to baby during pregnancy, and through sexual conduct. 

           A known quote that has gone around is “having HIV/AIDS is expensive” because it can 

destroy the economy of a family. A family can one day go from being part of the middle class to 

sinking down to the poor class because they are in debt due to medical bills and payments for 

treatments. A study was done by the United Nations in which they tried to see how HIV/AIDS has 

impacted the families in Africa. In the study, the researchers give a list of what expenses a family 

would have to deal with when dealing with HIV/AIDS. First, once a person gets infected with the 

disease, they have to leave work which results in a loss of income. If the person is the breadwinner 

of the family this has a long term effect on the family because if the person dies it becomes a 

“permanent loss” (Impact of AIDS, 39). Than, the savings of the family would gradually decrease 

because they would have to spend a lot of money on medical costs. This kind of spending can lead to 

“lower levels of consumption and production”, taking away from what a family would normally 

enjoy such as food or clothing (39). Lastly as stated before if the affected person dies, the family is 

left to pay for funeral expenses or other kinds of mourning costs. More interestingly, the UN research 

group determined two ways that two social classes would be affected with HIV/AIDS:

        

The relationship between poverty and the cost of AIDS to households can be visualized in two             levels. First AIDS can push families into poverty. Second, a household that was already poor                may become further impoverished. (39)

A family can really suffer financially from a family member getting HIV/AIDS. The impact can be 

such a burden that it could leave a family living by scraps.