The term human immunodeficiency virus is commonly known as (HIV), and is a virus that attacks the immune system of humans by destroying the amount of CD4 cells in their bodies. Without CD4 the human body is unable to fight disease, which can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, abbreviated as AIDS. The first case of HIV/AIDS in the United States occurred in the early 1980s. The first spark of the virus was found in San Francisco with a Caucasian American homosexual male couple. Today, African Americans account for the largest share of HIV and AIDS in this country, accounting for about 13% of the U.S. population, but they accounted for about 44% of new HIV infections in 2010 (the last year a survey was conducted study). Over the past year or so the United States has seen a startling increase in HIV infection rates among adolescents (ages 13 to 17) and young adults ages eighteen to twenty-four. “[in] 2010, 72% of the estimated 12,000 new HIV infections among young people occurred in young men who had sex with men, and nearly half of the new infections were among young black males” (FOX NEWS). Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS Prevention at the CDC, said the batch of new data received is stark and concerning. Over the past thirty years, the HIV virus within the black community has seen massive spread, based on the lack of prevention efforts. From studies, it is clear that HIV has created a major health crisis among Black male adolescents and young adults. Americans must step up and push for prevention efforts that target all African Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation, to help slow the spread of this urgent… medium of paper… t. 2013."ENDGAME: AIDS in Black America." PBS. PBS, July 10, 2012. Web. November 7, 2013. “Infected and Unaware: HIV Strikes America's Youth.” Fox News. FOX News Network, Nov. 28, 2012. Web. Oct. 29. 2013. Priest, Dana. "US Urged to Consider AIDS as a Racial Issue; Panel Points to Social and Economic Factors: [FINAL edition]." Remote Database User Authentication, Montgomery College Libraries/"ProQuest" Washington Post Digital, January 12, 1993. Web. November 04, 2013. US 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” Under the direction of Anand Parekh, MD, MPH, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health (Science and Medicine), Office of the Undersecretary for Health. September 2011. WEB 22 NOVEMBER 2013.