In the United States and around the world, AIDS remains a critical health issue. Statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and an additional 56,000 are infected each year. In July 2010, President Barack Obama’s administration launched a new U.S. government initiative to stop the spread of HIV. It was "the first national strategy designed to cut new infections, boost the number of people who get tested and treated, and reduce disparities in access to care," explains USA TODAY, the Nation’s No. 1 Newspaper. According to the government’s report, many people do not believe that HIV is an urgent health problem. Yet without action, the nation is likely to see an increase in the number of infections, a lack of services for people living with HIV, and a rise in health care costs. In this book, you’ll learn more about the U.S. government initiative, read stories of people living with HIV and AIDS, and learn important information on how people cope with and live with this illness. You’ll discover the causes, symptoms, treatment, and ways to stop the spread of HIV and get the facts you need to protect yourself, your friends, and your family from this serious disease.