• HIV Health/Service Organizations
• HIV Testing Sites
• Planning Coalitions

HIV/AIDS Defined:

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus): the virus that causes AIDS by killing or damaging cells of the body’s immune system. HIV progressively destroys the body’s ability to fight infections and certain cancers.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome): the late stage of HIV infection, characterized by a deterioration of the immune system and a susceptibility to a range of opportunistic infections and cancers.

Initial reports on HIV/AIDS:

June 1981, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported first cases of a rare form of pneumonia in young gay men, later diagnosed as AIDS-related; also issued reports on highly unusual occurrence of rare skin cancer, Kaposi’s Sarcoma, among young gay men. By 1983, Heterosexuals were considered at risk for the first time after two women whose sexual partners had AIDS contracted the disease.

The Global Challenge:

There is no country on the planet that has reported a case of HIV that can claim they have stopped the spread of HIV virus.They have only slowed its advance on humankind. AIDS kills more people than any other infectious disease and HIV is rapidly becoming a women’s epidemic. Of every 10 people newly infected with HIV, 6 are women.

The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Humankind:

An estimated 33 million people are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide today and this number is greater than any year since the pandemic began more than 20 years ago. To date, over 25 million men, women and children have died from AIDS worldwide.

Nearly 2.7 million people became newly infected with HIV during 2007. Of this figure, about 420,000 were children under 15 years of age. 2 million individuals died of AIDS related complications in 2007, over half a million were children.

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HIV/AIDS vs. Humankind:

 HIV/AIDS Has No Boundaries -

Highest rates of new HIV infection in the U.S. include:

The Local Challenge:

Transmission and Prevention:

The HIV virus spreads from person to person through blood-to-blood or sexual contact with someone who has the virus. A mother living with HIV can pass the virus on to her baby during pregnancy, delivery or through breast milk. The virus does not spread from person to person by casual everyday contact and is not spread through the water or air.

Body Fluids containing HIV

You can contract HIV:

Sharing needles and syringes with someone who is living with HIV. By having unprotected anal, vaginal, and oral sex with someone who has the virus. A newborn’s exposure to his or her HIV positive mother during pregnancy, birth or through breast feeding.

Safe Sexual Activities:

Sex between two mutually monogamous, uninfected partners who do not share needles and syringes with anyone. Massaging one’s own genitals or masturbation.

Activities that do not include touching a partners penis, vagina or anus. Activities that do not include sex, whether oral, anal or vaginal. Safer forms of sex

HIV Testing Defined:

Anonymous testing means that names are not recorded, and only the people getting tested can find out their own test results.

Confidential testing means that, although test results will be recorded, no one can give them out without permission of the people tested, except as required by state law.

Testing for HIV: Traditional

People can find out if they have contracted HIV by getting tested. People requesting tests are counseled before and after testing. Should be done once every six months.

With a sample of blood, an ELISA blood assay can show whether people have HIV antibodies. If results show that HIV antibodies are present, a confirmatory test, such as the Western Blot would be done.

Testing for HIV: Options

OraSure: an HIV antibody test, FDA approved, that uses a sample of oral mucus obtained with a specially treated cotton pad that is placed between the cheek and lower gum for two minutes.

OraQuick: an HIV antibody test, FDA approved, that uses a finger stick sample of blood.

HIV Infection Defined:

HIV attacks the body’s defenses. After entering the body, the virus starts to destroy cells (T cells/CD4 and other white blood cells) that defend against germs, bacteria and diseases. With a weakened immune system, the virus multiplies and starts to infect organs throughout the body, damaging other body systems.

After infection, people with HIV often develop symptoms similar to those of the flu, which may be longer than the usual 10-12 days. Thereafter, they may be free of symptoms, or they may have severe or prolonged fevers, lymph glands that stay swollen, diarrhea, lingering fatigue and persistent night sweats. After time, many people living with HIV develop AIDS, making them susceptible to diseases that most people could resist.

HIV to AIDS:

Scientists believe that half the people who have HIV will develop AIDS within 10 years after becoming infected if they do not receive treatment. Combination anti-retroviral drug therapy has been shown to slow the progression in some people, extending and improving their quality of life.

AIDS Diagnosed:

Before making a diagnosis of AIDS, doctors count the number of T cells/CD4 in the blood. CD4/T cell count below 200. Opportunistic infections such as Pneumocystis carnii pneumonia, tuberculosis, Kaposi's sarcoma or invasive cervical cancer in women are indicators of a HIV compromised immune system.

What You Can Do:

Click here View table of reported rank of death by HIV according to race & age