Why has it been hard to find the cure for aids?

considering the many great scientists and advanced technology at hand

1) It replicates quickly
2) it becomes part of your body, killing the virus will kill your immune system in effect
3) It is a retrovirus and mutates extremely quickly. It is based on RNA and not DNA and does not have a second strand like in DNA viruses so it mutates very very quickly. A cure today will not work in a couple of years. Like the flu virus, the vaccioine changes every year because the flu virus constantly changes
4) it is hard to determine where exactly the virus is located
5) It is impossible to completely destroy the virus, only get iut to small amounts

from what i've heard its keeps changing, and its so widespread theres nothing we can do. AAGH! we're all gonna die

AIDS is a virus that attacks the immune system. It attaches to the white blood cells that fight infection rendering them useless and eventually destroying them entirely. Most medications aid white blood cells by creating an environment inhospitable to bacteria. The white blood cells then have less of a fight to put up. Viruses however, do not react to medication. Most viruses are untreated, like the flu. Care is taken to relieve the symptoms of illness but little else can be done. Fortunately, during the early stages of the virus known as HIV, some treatment is available. We now have medications that can help slow down the virus giving many patients added years to their life. Some patients have even gone into remission (symptoms nearly disappear) for a period of time. This is no cure, but it has given hope to many. People can still live a worthwhile life with HIV today, when before this wasn't possible.

same reason there hasn't been a cure for cancer!

When AIDS replicates, it does so extremely quickly. Because of this, it makes numerous errors in copying its genes, creating differences in the offspring, therefore the drugs that worked previously do not work on the offspring.

There is a cure for cancer, its called chemo-therapy. Viruses are basically made up of the same stuff your body is made of,therefore you can't destroy them or you'll destroy yourself. You can't take away what it needs as this would mean taking away your own cells.