Scientists and researchers around the world have been perplexed since AIDS and HIV first appeared in the 1980s. This epidemic has been the subject of much discussion and heated debate throughout recent history, with everything from a promiscuous flight attendant to a suspect vaccination program blamed. HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that kills the "CD4 cells" (also called T-helper cells) your body needs, which keep your body healthy and fight anything that might threaten your life . AIDS, the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is the result of the progression of HIV, in which the body's immune system is completely destroyed. Background Information and History The AIDS virus was first discovered in New York and California in the early 1980s, when many gay men began showing signs of questionable infections that seemed incurable with any antidote. It had long been observed that all gay men showed symptoms of the same syndrome. The discovery of HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, came soon after the discovery of AIDS. Numerous studies and research findings have concluded that HIV causes AIDS. HIV is what is called a lentivirus, which attacks the immune system. «It's called lentivirus, which means “slow virus” because it takes a long time to affect any part of the body. Lentivirus has also been found in various animals including: cats, sheep, horses and cattle” (Kanabus, 2010). The lentivirus, according to recent studies, appears to be derived from the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) which affects monkeys (Kanabus, 2010). There are three main theories attributed to the origin of HIV/AIDS. The first theory is the Contamina...... at the heart of the document ......istics_nr&gclid=CNP9sJy8upoCFRYiagodIhMbdA• HIV/AIDS Policy Fact Sheet. (2009). The HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States. Retrieved May 13, 2010, from http://www.kff.org/hivaids/3029.cfm• HIV treatment is power. (2009, March). Therapeutic choices. Retrieved May 14, 2010, from http://www.hivtreatmentispower.com/230-goals-hiv-treatment.aspx• Jones, B. (2008). Economy in crisis, scientists doubt the hunt for an AIDS vaccine. Retrieved May 10, 2010, from http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-14-africa-AIDS_N.htm.• Kanabus, A. (2010). The origin of AIDS and HIV and the first cases of AIDS. Retrieved May 10, 2010, from http://www.avert.org/origins.htm.• National HIV/AIDS Strategy. (2010, May 9). What is the US government doing to fight HIV/AIDS on the domestic front? Retrieved May 10, 2010, from http://aids.gov/federal-resources/policies/national-hiv-aids-strategy/