Question

A person in your colony has recently been diagnosed with AIDS. People/ residents in the colony want him to leave the colony for the fear of spread of AIDS. List the possible preventive measure that you would suggest to the residents of your locality in a meeting organized by you so that they understand the situation.

Answer 1

Hint: A virus is an infectious microorganism that has the ability to grow within a host cell. The virus cannot reproduce on their own and depend on a healthy host cell for replication. Once it infects the cells of the host, it multiplies within the cell. It changes the genetic characteristics of the host cell by releasing its nucleic acids into the cytoplasm of the cell. After the replication process, the virus leaves the host cell either through budding or cell burst and infects neighboring host cells.

Step by step answer:AIDS is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. It is caused by the retrovirus known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The virus interferes with the immune system of the body, disabling it slowly over longer periods until the system is incapable of fighting off diseases and infections. There is no cure for AIDS but medication increases life expectancy for a few years, though death is certain. There are extensive researches being carried to effectively find a cure for the human immunodeficiency virus. The virus is a sexually transmitted disease. It is not a communicable disease and does not spread through contact. It can only spread through unprotected sexual interactions involving the exchange of body fluids such as semen, through contact with the blood of an infected person, from an infected mother to the infant through breastfeeding or during delivery.
There has been a stigma surrounding acquired immunodeficiency syndrome for a very long time. When the disease first came to light, people grew afraid and did not treat patients or infected people with dignity and respect. They were shunned and it went as far as them being condemned as sinners and believed that AIDS was a punishment from God. The most affected by this stigma and disease were the people belonging to queer identity groups, they have stripped off their basic human rights to the right to be treated. One would believe that advancement in medical practices and research provided regarding AIDS would educate people on the facts and myths surrounding it. But unfortunately, a few chose to still turn a blind eye to the truths and facts surrounding AIDS.
In a scenario mentioned in the question, it is absolutely necessary to first approach the person suffering from AIDS and offer your support and comfort to help them fight this disease. The members of the community should be informed on the truths and facts of the disease and provide them with the assurance that the disease is not communicable on touch or sharing of utensils.
They should be informed of precautionary methods to avoid being infected. These include having protected sexual interactions, not sharing needles or syringes previously used by another person, etc.

Note: The human immunodeficiency virus has claimed almost 33 million lives so far, and it is believed and reported that about 38 million are living with it as of the end of 2019.