Question

In India, AIDS was reported in
A. 1932
B. 1986
C. 1990
D. 1992

Answer 1

AIDS is short for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV belongs to the retrovirus family. Retroviruses infect their host cells by introducing their RNA copy into the host genome. They replicate and multiply using host cell machinery. There are two types of HIV- HIV-1 and HIV-2.

Complete answer:
HIV is believed to have originated in chimpanzees and got transferred to humans. The infected chimpanzees had simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) which evolved to HIV. In 1983, Robert Gallo and Luc Montagnier were two independent researchers who isolated HIV from AIDS patients. Over some time HIV infection leads to AIDS.
In India, the first AIDS patient was reported in 1986. The first HIV patient was reported in the same year. As of 2017, around twenty lakh people are reportedly infected with HIV, making India the country with the third-largest number of HIV cases.
The National AIDS Committee was established in 1986 under the guidance of this committee NACO was established. India’s health ministry established the National Aids control organization (NACO) in the year 1992. The organization aimed to educate individuals about HIV and AIDS. Prevention and control of the disease were the important aspects the organization promotes.
The National AIDS Control Program was introduced by NACO in three phases. The first phase involved high-risk patients in some urban areas. The second phase started in the year 1999 and this phase targeted behavioral change in people. The third phase started after 2006, again high-risk groups were targeted and its program was decentralized. Non-governmental organizations were called to educate people about HIV cause and prevention.

The correct option is (B).

Note:
So far no cure for AIDS has been developed; however, an infected person can bring down his viral load to an undetected level. The person has to strictly follow the antiretroviral treatment to reduce his viral load to such a level. The combination of antiretroviral drugs greatly reduces the human immunodeficiency virus count. Even though the person is still HIV positive he or she will not transmit it to others.