Politicians, Media, Celebrities Raise HIV/AIDS Awareness

Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson has joined the list of celebrities, advertisers and media firms informing Americans about the dangers of HIV/AIDS and how to prevent its spread. HIV/AIDS experts say that awareness about the virus has slipped in the past decade. Many Americans mistake antiretrovirals and other drugs that slow the progress of HIV/AIDS as cures. As a result, fewer people are taking the necessary precautions to prevent the disease now than 10 years ago. In a 30-second public service announcement that began running February 1 on radio stations all over the United States, Thompson said that he was proud to bring compassion and hope to the HIV/AIDS fight, reminded people that there is no cure for AIDS, and urged people to "remove the fear, talk about HIV/AIDS, get tested and if positive, seek treatment."

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