HIV & AIDS Education
Basic Facts About HIV and AIDS
What is HIV?
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV is different from most other viruses because it attacks the immune system. The immune system gives our bodies the ability to fight infections. HIV finds and destroys a type of white blood cell (T cells or CD4 cells) that the immune system must have to fight disease. (CDC DHAP Fact Sheet: Basic Information, 2008.)
What Is AIDS?
AIDS (Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome) is a fatal disease caused by infection with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the final stage of HIV infection. It can take years for a person infected with HIV, even without treatment, to reach this stage. Having AIDS means that the virus has weakened the immune system to the point at which the body has a difficult time fighting infections. When someone has one or more of these infections and a low number of T cells, he or she has AIDS (CDC DHAP Fact Sheet: Basic Information, 2008.). By preventing HIV infection, you can prevent AIDS. (See HIV/AIDS: Are You at Risk?) Currently, there is currently no cure for AIDS and no vaccine to prevent HIV infection, but more people than ever before are living with HIV/AIDS. CDC estimates that about 1 million people in the United States are living with HIV or AIDS. About one quarter of these people do not know that they are infected: not knowing puts them and others at risk. (CDC DHAP Fact Sheet: Basic Information, 2008.)
How Can People Get HIV?
HIV is transmitted in 3 main ways:
- Having unprotected sexual intercourse—anal, vaginal, or oral—with an infected person.
- Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug paraphernalia with an infected person.
- Infant infection from mother during pregnancy, birth, or, in some cases, breastfeeding. HIV-positive mothers, in this country, should abstain from breastfeeding, as it can pose an increased risk of transmission of HIV from breast milk or blood that can form around the nipple.
Because the blood supply in the United States is screened for HIV, the chance of getting HIV from transfusions is extremely small. Therefore, the risk for HIV infection through the transfusion of blood or blood products is extremely low. (CDC DHAP Fact Sheet: Basic Information, 2008).
How Can People Protect Themselves From HIV Infection?
- Not having sex (oral, anal, or vaginal sex)
- Having sex with only a single, mutually monogamous (faithful), uninfected partner
- Using a latex condom consistently and correctly for sexual intercourse (anal, vaginal, or oral), which greatly reduces the risk of infection
- Not using drugs
- Not sharing needles, syringes, or other drug paraphernalia to shoot drugs
Myths
- The AIDS crisis is over.
- Few people are at risk of getting HIV.
- The incidence rate of HIV is decreasing.
- Employees are not concerned about HIV.
Realities
- There is no cure for HIV or AIDS.
Medical treatments enable people living with HIV or AIDS to remain at work longer and return after taking disability.
- CDC estimates that 56,300 new HIV infections occurred in the United States in 2006-more people are living and working with HIV/AIDS than ever before. (CDC DHAP Fact Sheet: HIV Testing, 2008).
These people represent the talent and strength of your present and future workforce.
- An estimated 1,039,000 to 1,185,000 persons in the United States were living with HIV/AIDS. (CDC DHAP Fact Sheet: HIV Testing, 2008).
Almost no workplace will be left untouched.
- AIDS continues to be one of the top health concerns for employees.
Seventy-three percent of working Americans want workplace AIDS education, but few are receiving it.
