It started out rather muted, and sounded sort of tinfoilish. It was called GRID originally, Gay Related Immune Disorder. Nobody really knew what it was at first, whether it was some sort of cancer, a combination of venereal diseases, a lifestyle issue pertaining to substance abuse or what, so there was some generalized concern, that morphed into near panic among regular folks, worrying about getting it from toilet seats or from a drinking glass, that sort of thing. The main fear was getting it from a blood transfusion, and politics stepped in, dragging out the exclusion of high-risk populations from donation, and screening supply for the virus. The full-blown panic in the US was and is among that high-risk population, mostly gay men and drug users who are infected by sharing dirty needles. Other parts of the world, primarily Africa, are being hit hard by the disease, which is transmitted via heterosexual intercourse. Why the difference? Seems to be related to circumcision of males, but that’s still up in the air, as far as I know. The US, Israel and certain Arab countries are the only ones practicing widespread male circumcision, so that notion appears a little suspect. Back to behavioral excesses, imho.
Interesting.