Question

Some had stronger immune systems than their partners even though they were still infected. If you saw Longtime Companion, David was healthy when his partner (his name escapes me), but he eventually died from AIDS

Just because Ned appeared healthy during the movie doesn't mean he wasn't infected. I believe at that time there still wasn't a blood test to check for HIV, you were assumed to be healthy until you developed the purple lesions or in Craig's case, respiratory symptoms. We never saw Nick's lover become ill either although he died fairly early in the movie.

Larry Kramer is working on the sequel to The Normal Heart which centers on Ned Weeks and his battle after he is diagnosed as HIV positive.

Not everyone who is exposed will become infected. Some that do may not become ill.

Think about it in terms of the plague. Many died, some became ill and recovered, and quite a few never became ill at all. Those of use with ancestors from the areas that were affected are descendants of the survivors. It's a bit of natural gene selection.

CCR5-delta 32 is a mutated gene and it's believed those who have it are HIV/AIDS resistant. It's being studied in the research for treatments and the cure.

There are now medications that can make the viral load undetectable. There are also meds. that one can take as a precaution if in a high risk position. Safe sex though is still advised.

The immune aspect of it isn't as bad as it once was. There are now much more treatments for that. Effects from inflammation are now what is of the highest concern for those living with HIV?AIDS.

At the end of the movie, you see that Ned's rolodex card is being removed and put in the pile of cards of those that had died previously. That tells me that he eventually died of AIDS.