Walsh & Hoyt: Human Immunodeficiency Viruses 1 and 2

HIV-1 was first identified and characterized by groups in the United States and France and initially was called by several different names, including the ""lymphadenopathy associated virus,"" ""human T-lymphotropic virus type III,"" and ""the acquired immune deficiency retrovirus."" Subsequently, the term ""human immunodeficiency virus type 1"" became universally accepted. It is estimated that about 40 million individuals throughout the world are infected with HIV and that about 5 million people die annually from HIV-associated disease, confirming that HIV is one of the most significant worldwide threats to health.