Facts About HIV

- HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infects cells of the immune system.
Infection results in the progressive deterioration of the immune system, breaking down the body's ability to fend off infections and diseases. AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome) refers to the most advanced stages of HIV infection, defined by the occurrence of any of more than 20 opportunistic infections or related cancers.

- You can't catch HIV from just being around a person or having casual contact with someone who is infected

- HIV infection is not carried in sweat or tears. It also can't be transmitted through water fountains, phones, toilet seats or clothes.

- HIV can be transmitted in several ways. HIV can be transmitted through:

* unprotected sexual intercourse (vaginal or anal) or oral sex with an infected person;
* transfusions of contaminated blood;
* the sharing of contaminated needles, syringes or other sharp instruments;
* the transmission between a mother and her baby during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding

- It's not just homosexual people who need to be tested. Every one can get HIV.

- Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) prevents the HIV virus from multiplying in the body
If the reproduction of the HIV virus stops, then the body's immune cells are able to live longer and provide the body with protection from infections.

- A person can't catch HIV from mosquitoes or any other bug bites or stings.


- An estimated 3.4 million children are living with HIV/AIDS.
According to 2010 figures most of the children live in sub-Saharan Africa and were infected by their HIV-positive mothers during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. Almost 1100 children become newly infected with HIV each day. The number of children receiving ART increased from about 75 000 in 2005 to 456 000 in 2010.

- Giving blood doesn't increase a person's risk of contracting HIV.

- There are34 million people live with HIV/AIDS worldwide.
The vast majority are in low- and middle-income countries. An estimated 2.7 million people were newly infected with the virus in 2010.

- HIV can't spread through a closed-mouth kiss and there's only a small chance it maybe spread from an open-mouth kiss.

- HIV/AIDS is the world’s leading infectious killer
About 30 million people have died to date. An estimated 1.8 million people die every year from HIV/AIDS.

- People who have HIV don't always look sick - most HIV-positive paople look perfectly healthy.

- Mother-to-child-transmission is almost entirely avoidable.
However access to preventive interventions remains low in most low- and middle-income countries. But, progress has been made. In 2010, 48% of pregnant women living with HIV received the most effective regimens (as recommended by WHO) to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus.

- To prevent HIV transmission:
* practice safe sexual behaviors such as using condoms and/or microbicide;
* get tested and treated for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV;
* avoid injecting drugs, or if you do, always use new and disposable needles and syringes;
* ensure that any blood or blood products that you might need are tested for HIV.