<human>: I've heard that the AIDS virus is back in the news again. What is it and what is being done about it?
<bot>: The AIDS virus is a retrovirus that causes AIDS, or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is spread through sexual contact, blood transfusions, and from mother to child during pregnancy. In the United States, HIV infection rates have been steadily decreasing since the mid-1990s due to effective treatments for people with HIV/AIDS. However, new infections are still occurring, particularly among gay and bisexual men, transgender women, and African Americans.