Five Essential Facts about AIDS

1. Five Essential Facts
about AIDS
By Ron Dostal

2. Helping organizations that are working to cure
AIDS has always been a cause close to my heart.
I’ve participated in the 2009 and 2010 AIDS
Lifecycles, and I help out the AIDS Project Los
Angeles whenever I can. But, despite the growth
in awareness, AIDS is still widely misunderstood.
To help combat that, here are some facts about
AIDS.
1. As AIDS progresses, the body’s immune system
deteriorates, making it difficult to ward off life-
threatening infections.
2. 2. Approximately 2.7 million new individuals
became infected with HIV, the virus that causes
AIDS, in 2010. Thirty-four million people
throughout the world are infected with the HIV
virus.

3. 3. HIV-positive mothers sometimes unwittingly
transfer the disease to their infants through
breastfeeding or during pregnancy.
4. Many people do not develop full-blown AIDS
symptoms until 10 to 12 years after initial infection,
and even later in some individuals. The sooner that
infected individuals receive medical treatment, the
better their chances of survival.
5. Treatment of AIDS has become more effective in
recent years due to the development of certain
medications. However, there is still no known cure for
the disease.
About the author: Ron Dostal is a Principal in Deloitte
Consulting, LLC and an active supporter of the
ongoing fight against AIDS.