Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
艾滋病，即获得性免疫缺损综合征,是人体感染了“人体免疫缺 损病毒”（HIV)(又称艾滋病病毒)所导致的免疫系统疾病。
This vims progressively reduces the effectiveness of the immune system and leaves individuals susceptible to opportunistic infections and tumors. HIV is transmitted through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the bloodstream with a bodily fluid containing HIV, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, preseminal fluid, and breast milk.
这种病毒逐步降低免疫系统的有效性，增加个人被机会性感染 和患肿瘤的几率。爱滋病病毒传播是通过直接接触含HIV病毒的黏 膜或其他体液如血液、精液、阴道液.前精液和母乳。
There is currently no vaccine or cure for HIV or AIDS. The only known methods of prevention are based on avoiding exposure to the virus or, failing that, an antiretroviral treatment directly after a highly significant exposure, called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). PEPhasaverydemanding four-week schedule of dosage. It also has very unpleasant side effects includingdiarrhea,malaise, nausea and fatigue.
目前还没有能预防艾滋病的疫苗，也没有药物能治愈艾滋病。 巳知的能预防的唯一方法是避免接触病毒，如果不小心接触了，可 以采取抗逆转录病毒疗法来做接触后预防(PEPhPEP要严格执行 四周剂量的用药方案,可能会有包括腹泻、全身乏力、恶心和疲劳 等不良的副作用。
It has been postulated that only a vaccine can halt the pandemic because a vaccine would possibly cost less, thus being affordable for developing countries, and would not require daily treatments. However, even after almost 30 years of research, HIV-1 remains a difficult target for a vaccine.
据推测，只有疫苗才能制止艾滋病大流行，因为疫苗有可能降 低成本，发展中国家也才负担得起,也才不用每天都进行治疗。然 而，即使是在长达30年的研究之后，发明研制HIV-1的疫苗仍然是 非常艰巨的任务。
Research to improve current treatments includes decreasing side effects of current drugs, further simplifying drug regimens, and determining the best sequence of regimens to manage drug resistance. A number of studies have shown that measures to prevent opportunistic infections can be beneficial when treating patients with HIV infection or AIDS. Vaccination against hepatitis A and B is advised for patients who are not infected with these viruses and are at risk of becoming infected.
对改善目前治疗方法的研究包括减少现有药物的副作用、进一 步简化治疗方案并制订能降低耐药性的最佳用药方案。一些研究表 明,对艾滋病病毒携带者和患者进行治疗时采取措施防止机会性感 染是非常有必要的。像甲肝或者乙肝疫苗一样,在人们未感染前或 者在其有被感染的风险时,来注射疫苗。
A number of misconceptions have arisen surrounding HIV/AIDS. Three of the most common are that AIDS can spread through casual contact, that sexual intercourse with a virgin will cure AIDS, and that HIV can infect only homosexual men and drug users. Other misconceptions are that any act of anal intercourse between gay men can lead to AIDS infection, and that open discussion of homosexuality and HIV in schools will lead to increased rates of homosexuality and AIDS.
关于艾滋病病毒/艾滋病有很多误解。最常见的3种是，艾滋 病可通过日常接触传播，与处女发生关系可以治愈艾滋病，只有男同性恋者和吸毒者才会感染艾滋病病毒。还有其他一些误解，比如男同性恋之间的肛交行为 会导致感染艾滋病，或者在学校对同性恋和艾滋病病毒进行公开讨论会导致同性恋和艾滋病的 比例升高等等。
But there is good reason to be optimistic about eliminating AIDS, says an editorial in New Scientist.
但是《新科学家猶一篇社论说，对根除艾滋病还是比较有希望的。
The strongest hope lies in a potential “cure” based on gene therapy, it says. US company Sangamo Biosciences is developing a gene therapy to emulate the effect of a bone marrow transplant that “vanquished” the virus in an HIV patient. If it works, patients could be cured with a single shot of gene therapy instead of a lifetime of antiretroviral therapy (ART), says the editorial.
它说，最大的希望在于一种可能“治愈”艾滋病的基因疗法。美国的Sangamo生物科学公荀正 在开发一种模仿骨髓移植效应的基因疗法，从而“击败”艾滋病病毒感染者体内的病毒。该社论说， 如果它是可行的，患者不需要终身接受抗逆转录病毒治疗(ART)，而只需接受一针的基因治疗就 可痊愈。
And ARTs are themselves a reason for optimism, it adds. According to the WHO, existing ARTs could eliminate HIV in Africa by 2050—if accompanied by regular testing and quick treatments. Such a long-term programme would be expensive but at US$ 85 billion, the cost is a fraction of the US$700 billion recently spent to bail out US banks.
它还说，而抗逆转录病毒治疗本身也是让人感到乐观的原因。从世界卫生组织了解到，到2050 年，如果伴随着定期测试和快速治疗的话——现有的抗逆转录病毒治疗可以在非洲消灭艾滋病。 这个长期的项目是昂贵的，但是850亿美元的价格只是近来美国挽救美国银行所用的7000亿美元 的一小部分。
And ART prices could fall. GlaxoSmithKline has said it will offer poor countries all its medicines at 25 per cent less than the typical price in the developed world.
而抗逆转录病毒治疗的价格可能会下降。葛兰素史克公司说它将为不发达国家以发达国家典 型药价25%以下的价格提供其所有药物。
With enough time and money, the editorial concludes we can finally start to rid the world of AIDS.
这篇社论得出结论说，有了足够的时间和金钱，我们终将可以让全世界摆脱艾滋病。