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It is totally inaccurate and misleading to use the
term “generalized” to describe any HIV epidemic since only
persons who are exposed to HIV-infected blood or sexual fluids such
as semen are at any risk of an HIV infection! When HIV prevalence is
>1% of any specific population, the more accurate term is extensive
- NOT generalized!
Even in sub-Saharan Africa, the epicenter of the
HIV/AIDS pandemic, HIV cannot be considered a generalized infection
since the majority of all "general" populations are not infected
with HIV and are not at significant risk of acquiring HIV infection
via sexual intercourse because they are either abstinent or they and
their regular sex partner are mutually monogamous or faithful to
each other!
Virtually every man, women, and child are assumed to be at risk of infection with a pandemic influenza virus and in all documented influenza pandemics, the majority of the total population were infected. Influenza epidemics can be accurately called "generalized"epidemics, but HIV is not capable of causing a "generalized" epidemic! |