Human: What is the history of the AIDS epidemic? Assistant: 
The AIDS epidemic began in the early 1980s when a new strain of HIV was identified as the cause of AIDS. This virus, known as HIV-1, quickly spread throughout the world and caused an estimated 25 million deaths by the end of the 20th century. By the beginning of the 21st century, there were over 35 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. In recent years, advances in antiretroviral therapy have allowed many infected individuals to live longer and healthier lives. However, due to the lack of effective prevention methods, the number of new infections continues to rise.