What is Aids?

AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. HIV stands for human immune defiency virus. The Aids virus is a virus which affects the body's immune system. Aids is the second leading cause of death among persons 25-44. The aids virus has already resulted in deaths of approximately 11.7 million people world wide, and will ultimately cause the death of an estimated 30.6 million men, women, and children, around the globe. Roughly 6 million people were newly infected with HIV in 1997--nearly 16,000 people each day. In adults the onset of AIDS can take up to 10 or more years, and new drug therapies can only delay the progression of the disease into AIDS even longer. A person infected with HIV may look and feel healthy for many years, but he or she can still transmit the virus to someome eles, which is why it is very important for individuals to get tested. HIV is very easily transmitted. HIV does not survive long outside the body therefore can only be transmitted when any of the above body fluids from an infected individual enters an uninfected individual. Annonymous HIV testing is the only form of HIV testing that is not name based. If you recieve a test from an annonymus testing center, no one but you will know the test results. Currently, 40 states plus the District of Colmbia and Puerto Rico offer annonymous testing. There are many ways to get HIV, but there are also many ways not to infect yourself with it. Ways that you do not get HIV, are:

-donating blood.
-mosquito bites or bites from other bugs.
-sneezes or coughs.
-touching, hugging, or dry kissing a person with HIV.
-the urine or sweat of an infected person.
-public restrooms, saunas, showers or pools.
-sharing towels or clothing.
-sharing or eating utensils or drinks.
-being friends with a person who has HIV/AIDS.

Young adults (under age 25) are quickly becoming the most at-risk age group, now accounting for an estimated 50% of all new HIV infections in the United States. Teenagers and young people here and around the world need to take an active role in changing the course of the HIV/AIDS epidemic by adjusting their attitudes towards the disease. You can help stop the spread of HIV! World AIDS Day is a special opportunity every year to focus attention on this urgent challenge that affects us all. It is marked around the world by thousands of different events designed to increase awarness and to express solidarity and compassion. This World AIDS Day-- and every day-- join the world wide effort to stop the spread of HIV!!!