Great news for people living with HIV, the U.S. has decided to lift a 20 year ban and allow infected individuals into the country.
This ban will take effect beginning January 1, 2010 in which people infected or ill will be allowed to enter or travel the U.S.
This announcement was made at the White House by President Barack Obama. Before he signed the declaration, he said, "If we want to be the global leader in combating HIV/AIDS, we need to act like it."
The ban started in 1987 when little was known about the disease and fear spread faster than the disease itself. The Department of Health and Human Services added AIDS to the list of diseases that prevent a person from entering the U.S.
More than one million people are infected with HIV in the United States and close to 56 000 new cases are discovered each year.