In this article scientist discuss what they believe to be the origin of the

AIDS virus in United States. Using a kind of genetic molecular analysis on

blood samples from early aids victims in contrast with the blood from

current Aids victims scientists were able to create a map of the spread of

the Aids virus. There analysis has led them to the conclusion that the Aids

virus first entered the US in the city of Miami. They believe it came to

Miami from the country of Haiti by way of immigrant. Due to the nature of

the Aids virus, where a carrier can be unaware of its presence for years,

and the fact that early on so little was known about the disease, it spread

rampantly in the beginning quickly infecting hundreds and then thousands as

it spread across the US and the world. Aids is now said to have originated

in Africa in the 1930s, it made its way to Haiti by 1966 by way of

immigration, and then finally to the US and Miami by 1969.

The true networks aspect of this article really comes into play with the

diseases spread within the US where it has been most studied and documented.

At its most basic level the spread of an idea fad or information is similar

to that of a biological disease. With the difference being that one is

spread through conversation or written word, and the other is spread through

fluid exchange. Both follow the same basic principal of expansion. It is

said that it was a mere one Haitian immigrant that brought Aids to the US

and left unchecked it spread aggressively, vastly increasing its numbers in

a short time until the knowledge of its existence, and ideas on preventing

its spread came into practice. The single Haitian acted as a gatekeeper for

the disease in the US.  It was his initial connections that led to the

rampant spread of the disease on a much greater level. This scenario also

demonstrates how our greatly increased ability to travel and spread

information has also resulted in our increased capability to spread disease.

In a time where intercontinental travel was not as common, it is likely that

the level of spread of Aids would not have as large.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21534118/