HIV

Human immunodeficiency viruses
Scanning electron micrograph of HIV-1 (in green) budding from cultured lymphocyte. Multiple round bumps on cell surface represent sites of assembly and budding of virions.
Scientific classification
(unranked):	Virus
Realm:	Riboviria
Kingdom:	Pararnavirae
Phylum:	Artverviricota
Class:	Revtraviricetes
Order:	Ortervirales
Family:	Retroviridae
Subfamily:	Orthoretrovirinae
Genus:	Lentivirus
Groups included
Human immunodeficiency virus 1 Human immunodeficiency virus 2
Other lentiviruses
Bovine immunodeficiency virus Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus Equine infectious anemia virus Feline immunodeficiency virus Jembrana disease virus Puma lentivirus Simian immunodeficiency virus Visna-maedi virus

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a type of virus called a Lentivirus. This is a kind of retrovirus. It infects the human immune system, which is the system in the body which fights off infections.

HIV may cause AIDS. This kills the white blood cells which a healthy body uses to fight diseases.

African Americans, gay and bisexual men, black women, transgender women and drug users are most affected by the disease.^[1]

South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe have the highest rate of HIV in the world.^[2]

1. ↑ "Who Is at Risk for HIV?". hiv.gov.
2. ↑ "The Status of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa".