AIDS: The epidemic that didn't happen

[Fast Twitch Fiber]

Remember back in the mid 80's when AIDS was taking off in Africa? Everyone said it would be a huge epidemic in North America within 10-15 years. For some reason it hasn't happened. Why do you suppose? I think it's because AIDS is relatively easy to prevent with some education.

 

[Steroid_Virgin]

It never happened because its a gay males disease... thats.. uhh < 1% of the population??

not that I have anything against gays.. but I'd like someone to prove otherwise..

 

[starfish]

It never happened because its a gay males disease... thats.. uhh < 1% of the population??

not that I have anything against gays.. but I'd like someone to prove otherwise..

I doubt they think that in Africa.

 

[JohnyJuice]

It didnt happen here because the stupid asses who made that prediction felt that what happens in Africa easily translates to America. Give me a break. Aids is bad, but we arent a 3rd world country.

 

[JDarty6173]

Well there's enough cases here in the US to keep it on my mind everytime I hit on a chick at a bar or club.. Or hell even at Walmart...

 

[Fonz]

I doubt they think that in Africa.

True.

8.5% of Africa has AIDS.

2015 projection is approx. 20%

Thats pretty bad.

Fonz

 

[Fast Twitch Fiber]

My doctor told me one time that if a man had sex with a woman that WAS HIV positive without using a condom there was still less than a 1% chance that the man would become infected. If you bag your willy the odds drop almost to nothing. And that's assuming that the woman was confirmed to be HIV +. Now factor in the odds of a woman actually being HIV positive and your odds keep dropping.

While looking at the Center for Disease statistics broken down by risk factor AIDS in the USA is almost exclusively among gay men and IV drug users.

I've read where things are totally different in Africa socially. Prostitution is every where and it's common for men to have 5 different partners in one week. Condoms are not considered "manly" and aren't used. Some hospitals don't even test blood samples before transfusions.

 

[Fonz]

My doctor told me one time that if a man had sex with a woman that WAS HIV positive without using a condom there was still less than a 1% chance that the man would become infected. If you bag your willy the odds drop almost to nothing. And that's assuming that the woman was confirmed to be HIV +. Now factor in the odds of a woman actually being HIV positive and your odds keep dropping.

While looking at the Center for Disease statistics broken down by risk factor AIDS in the USA is almost exclusively among gay men and IV drug users.

I've read where things are totally different in Africa socially. Prostitution is every where and it's common for men to have 5 different partners in one week. Condoms are not considered "manly" and aren't used. Some hospitals don't even test blood samples before transfusions.

You're simplifying things too much.

HIV has several strains.

The B being the most common.
The E just emerging.

The B strain does not make the heterosexual jump easily.
The E strain however does.

The US and civilized countries are mostly B Strain.
The E strain originated in Thailand(or so goes the story)

The E strain is now re-emerging in the US etc... due
to immigration.

Increase your 1% to 40%. Thats how much worse the E-strain i compared to the B-Strain.

Fonz