05 HIV AIDS PANDEMIC ONE OF THE DEADLIEST EPIDEMIC AND PANDEMIC IN HISTORY MOST DEVASTATING OUTBREAK

The HIV/AIDS pandemic is one of the most devastating global health crises in history. It began in 1981 when clusters of cases of rare infections and cancers were reported among gay men in the United States. The disease was later identified as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Since then, the virus has spread to every corner of the globe, infecting more than 70 million people and causing the death of over 35 million individuals. The HIV virus is transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. The most common modes of transmission are through unprotected sex, sharing needles, and from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. The virus attacks the immune system, leading to the development of opportunistic infections and cancers that can be fatal if left untreated. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has had a significant impact on global health, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, w