AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It was first reported in the United States in 1981 and has since become a major worldwide epidemic. In 2007,

• 33 million people lived with the disease worldwide;
• 2.7 million people were newly infected with HIV;
• 2 million people died with the disease.

In the United States, more than 1 million people currently are living with HIV/AIDS. In 2006, there were approximately 53,600 new HIV infections, with the highest proportion among African Americans despite the fact that they make up only 12 percent of the U.S. population. (reference).