[klyrs]

During the height of the HIV epidemic, I was a teenager. A close family friend, and one of my middle school teachers died of pneumonia. The virus compromised their immune systems, that is, AIDS, and that condition led to their susceptibility to pneumonia.

We've largely addressed HIV through various treatments and education (what you might call "fear-mongering" about shared needles and unprotected sex). HIV doesn't cause an obvious symptomatic response -- much like many people's experience with the novel coronavirus. But it weakens the immune system and other, otherwise harmless, infections take root and can cause significant harm.