Remember the past, present and future HIV and AIDS HIV is one of the biggest social, economic and health challenges in the world. It is a global emergency claiming over 8,000 lives every day. In fact 5 people die of AIDS every minute. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This is the virus known to cause AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). If someone is HIV-positive, it means they have been infected with the virus. A person infected with HIV does not have AIDS until the virus seriously damages their immune system, making them vulnerable to a range of infections, some of which can lead to death. HIV is transmitted through body fluids in particular blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk, in fact there are only four ways you can become HIV positive. In 2003, almost 5 million people acquired HIV, which means there are now almost 38 million people living with HIV and AIDS. Despite best efforts from governments, non-profit organisations and healthcare practitioners around the world, HIV and AIDS is still having huge global impact. In the UK, there are fewer people are dying of AIDS but incidences of HIV in the UK than ever before. With testing and proper treatment, through anti-HIV drugs, many people in the UK are now able to halt or delay the damage caused by HIV. HIV and AIDS Contracting HIV You can get HIV in four ways: · unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected partner (the most common); · sharing needles or other contaminated injection or skin-piercing equipment; · blood and blood products through, for example, infected transfusions and organ or tissue transplants; · transmission from infected mother to child in the womb or at birth and breastfeeding. HIV is not transmitted by casual physical contact, coughing, sneezing and kissing, by sharing toilet and washing facilities, by using eating utensils or consuming food and beverages handled by someone who has HIV; it is not spread by mosquitoes or other insect bites. Currently, the two groups most affected by HIV in the UK are gay men and heterosexual people who have lived in Africa. Although HIV infection is most common in these groups in the UK, anybody can be infected with HIV through unprotected sex or needle sharing. Blood transfusions and the use of other blood products are safe in the UK, and mother to baby transmission can be prevented by proper treatment and care. HIV and AIDS around the World · 37.8 million people living with HIV and AIDS · 4.8 million new HIV cases in 2003 · 2.9 million AIDS deaths in 2003 · 57.8 million total HIV cases to date · 20 million total AIDS deaths to date Take care of yourself Stew
