The term human immunodeficiency virus is commonly referred to as (HIV), which is a virus that attacks the immune system of humans by destroying the amount of CD4 cells in their body . Without CD4, the human body is unable to fight disease, which can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, called AIDS for short. The first case of the HIV/AIDS virus in the United States occurred in the early 1980s. The first spark of the virus was found in San Francisco in a couple of white, American gay men. Today, African Americans make up the largest proportion of people with HIV and AIDS in this country, make up about 13% of the U.S. population, but accounted for about 44% of new HIV infections in 2010 (the last year where a study was conducted). In recent years, the United States has seen a striking increase in HIV infection rates among adolescents (ages 13 to 17) and young adults ages eighteen to twenty-four. “[in] 2010, 72 percent of the 12,000 new HIV infections among young people occurred among young men who have sex with men, and nearly half of the new infections were among young black men” (FOX NEWS). Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS Prevention at the CDC, said the body of new data received is grim and worrying. Over the past thirty years, the HIV virus within the black community has experienced massive spread. due to lack of prevention efforts. It is clear from studies that HIV has created a serious health crisis among black adolescents and young adults. Americans must come forward and push for prevention efforts that will target all African Americans, regardless of sexual orientation, to help slow the spread of this emergency... middle of paper...... t. 2013. “ENDGAME: AIDS in Black America.” PBS. PBS, July 10, 2012. Web. November 7, 2013. “Infected and ignorant: HIV hits America’s youth.” » Fox News. FOX News Network, November 28, 2012. Web. October 29. 2013. Priest, Dana. "U.S. Urged to View AIDS as a Racial Problem; Panel Highlights Social, Economic Factors: [FINAL Edition]." Remote Database User Authentication, Montgomery College Libraries/"ProQuest" Washington Post Digital, January 12, 1993. Web. November 4, 2013. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Inventory of Programs, Activities, and Initiatives Focused on Improving the Health of Individuals with Multiple Chronic Conditions” Edited by Anand Parekh, MD, MPH, under -Assistant Secretary for Health (Science and Medicine), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health. September 2011. WEB NOV 22. 2013.