AIDS is a communicable disease that causes the destruction of the immune system and when left untreated can cause death. The AIDS epidemic began in the 1980s and caused millions of deaths around the world, especially in the 1980s and 1990s, when there was no effective mechanism to combat AIDS. That has changed in this century, as there are now effective treatments that can prolong the life of a seropositive for the average normal period of the population. However, around the world many people still die from not having adequate access to treatment. Finally, it is noteworthy that the HIV-positive community suffers a lot of prejudice and discrimination, which must be combated through awareness campaigns.