In a year that has been dominated by the coronavirus, another virus, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) continues to spread and kill more than a million people worldwide each year.
Started in 1988, World AIDS Day was created to bring awareness of the disease and recognize those who have died. Tens of millions of people worldwide have been killed by AIDS that has disproportionately affected people of color including here in the United States.
With new medical treatments available, the number of deaths has decreased since the peak in 2005. However, nearly a million people each year succumb to this deadly disease according to the United Nations. In the United States, KFF reports that nearly 700,000 Americans have died from AIDS since 1981 and nearly 1.1 million Americans are currently living with HIV.
In recognition of World AIDS Day, the lights on City Hall will shine in the color red tonight. For more information on World AIDS Day, go to UNAIDS: https://spark.adobe.com/page/OdpIRTRApOghp/
