Write a summary about the history and epidemiology of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

HIV/AIDS has had a profound impact on communities and individuals around the globe. First reported cases of the virus were in 1981. But it’s believed that its origins are in Africa, in the early 1900s. Over 70 million HIV-positive people and 35 million AIDS victims have died since its discovery. Due to the stigma, it primarily impacts marginalized communities such as men with sex to men, drug injectors, sex workers, and men who have had sex to men. In addition, HIV is a racial issue. African Americans represent 13% of US residents but 44% of HIV new infections every year. Despite significant progress made during recent decades in terms of treatment and prevention efforts (such as widespread availability of antiretroviral therapy and pre-exposure prophylaxis), the fight against AIDS is far from over—new cases continue to be reported at alarming rates throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa as well as other regions across the globe.