human
I've heard that the AIDS virus is back in the news again. What is it and what is being done about it?
assistant
The AIDS virus, also known as HIV, has been around since the early 1980s. It was first identified in a group of gay men who had contracted a rare form of cancer called Kaposi's sarcoma. Since then, scientists have learned how to treat HIV with antiretroviral drugs, which can keep the virus from replicating and spreading. These drugs are now widely used and have greatly reduced the number of people infected with HIV. However, there remains a small but significant risk of transmission through sexual activity, blood transfusions, and sharing needles for drug use.