A new study focusing on the deaths of African lawmakers shows that a number of them are dying from AIDS—a problem that many believe is threatening the ability of Southern African governments from functioning effectively, according to the Associated Press. Over the last eight years, South Africa has seen almost half of their elected lawmakers die before the age of 50. The situation is attributed to a fear of the stigma associated with having the virus (some say it’s like political suicide) even though many of these people have access to health care. —WLW