HIV/AIDS Still ‘Growing Problem’ in United States, Indianapolis Star Editorial Says
Although it is important that the United States help African nations and other developing countries that have been hit hard by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, "it's also crucial that the danger at home isn't forgotten," an Indianapolis Star editorial says. Most people are aware of the devastation HIV/AIDS has had in other countries; however, "they often overlook the fact that these diseases are a growing problem in the United States despite extensive education programs and new drug treatments," the editorial says. In fact, the drugs that prolong the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS may be "perversely" contributing to the spread of HIV because HIV-positive people live longer and often without symptoms, according to the Star. "Not only does this create opportunities for the disease to spread, but it has also created a myth that AIDS is curable," the editorial says, adding that there is no cure, "merely drugs that ease symptoms or prolong lives." The editorial warns that a "whole new generation is growing up either unaware or misinformed as to how deadly and infectious AIDS can be" (Indianapolis Star, 12/10).
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