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ABOUT HIV

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. A person may have this virus and be unaware of their own infection and ability to infect others.

AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) occurs when HIV infection has progressed to the point of clinical symptoms and/or a given measurement of immune dysfunction. The progression from HIV to AIDS takes an average of 10 years. There is no known cure for HIV or AIDS.

Pennsylvania has reported 29,879 cases of AIDS since 1980. Over 887,000Americans as of December 31, 2003 have been diagnosed with AIDS. It is estimated that there are between 850,000 to 950,000 Americans living with HIV and that half of the 40,000 newly infected each year are under the age of 25.

HIV is transmitted by:

• unprotected sex with infected persons
• sharing needles with infected persons
• blood to blood contact with infected persons
• HIV infected mother to new born child

HIV is NOT transmitted by:

• hugging
• shaking hands
• swimming pools
• public restrooms
• mosquito bites
• water fountains
• donating blood
• sneezes and coughs