>(just out of curiosity) How is
>it that we have virtually
>eliminated other "natural" diseases just
>by bettering our hygiene/living standards
>or finding vaccines (e.g. cholera,
>dysentery, tuberculosis, malaria etc.) and
>we cannot easily figure out
>how to stop a virus
>that (supposedly) originated in a
>monkey???

You are comparing vastly seperate diseases. HIV/AIDS bears little resemblance to anything you have listed. On the other hand, bettering hygiene/living standards does help. You'll note that the populations most effected by HIV are the generally the poorest (or most underground). "Safe(r)" sex, clean needles, etc. are all proven to decrease risk.