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HIV Facts & Information
HIV
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. It stands for “Human
Immunodeficiency
Virus”.
AIDS
A person must first be infected with HIV in order to develop
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). When someone develops AIDS, their
immune system is weakened to the point that “opportunistic infections”
invade the body
and it is no longer able to fight off infection. AIDS
is the end stage of HIV infection. In
order to be clinically diagnosed as
having AIDS, a person must be: HIV positive and
have a CD4 count less than 200 or has
1 or more opportunistic infections.
INFECTIOUS
BODY FLUIDS
HIV is passed from person-to-person through
contact with the following infected body
fluids:
Where did HIV
come from?
Many
theories exist, but its origin is still unknown.
When was
HIV/AIDS discovered?
The disease
"AIDS" was recognized in 1981. The virus "HIV" was
identified in 1983 by
scientists in the United States and France.
How long does
HIV live outside the body?
HIV is fragile
and does not survive very long outside the body. Many experts believe that the virus
dies when the fluid it is in dries. The virus cannot infect you unless it enters your
blood stream.
Who is at risk
for HIV?
Anyone who
engages in risky behaviors in which infected body fluids are passed is at risk. HIV does
not discriminate by age, race, gender or sexual orientation. It’s not who you are, it’s
what you do that puts you at risk.
Is kissing
infectious?
HIV has been
found in small amounts in the saliva of some people, but researchers
have never found HIV to be spread by kissing. Scientists say there just isn’t
enough virus in saliva to cause infection. There is a theoretical
risk of transmission if a person who has a cut or opening in their mouth kisses an
infected person who has blood present in their saliva. Most scientists agree you can enjoy
kissing without worrying about HIV transmission.
What about
getting HIV from body fluids like sweat, tears, etc…?
Although small
amounts of HIV have been found in body fluids like saliva, sweat, tears, urine and
feces, there is no evidence that HIV can be spread by contact with them.
Can a person get HIV from a mosquito or any other
insect?
No. HIV cannot
replicate in a mosquito, therefore it is unable to become infected with HIV and
transmit it. Also, when a mosquito bites one person, it does not inject the
blood into the next
person it attacks – it spits on them!
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