Frequently Asked Questions about HIV & AIDS (FAQ's)
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What is AIDS?
AIDS is short for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. The AIDS virus is called human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV.
The HIV virus can enter the body and infect cells which provide a natural immunity against certain diseases. As the HIV virus infects and kills these white blood cells, the body's defense system breaks down. People with AIDS are more susceptible to certain forms of cancer, pneumonia and other unusual infections caused by germs which usually don't harm anyone whose immune system is working normally.
The AIDS virus is fragile and is easily destroyed by heat, mild household bleach, even soap and water. Although it does not survive very well outside the body, the AIDS virus can be deadly if it gets into your body.

How Can You Get AIDS?
Transmission of the HIV virus can occur:

• when syringes or hypodermic needles contaminated with HIV-infected blood are used for injection and shared.
• when blood from an HIV-infected is passed to her child in the womb or at birth.
• when HIV-infected blood is inadvertently transfused in to an uninfected person.
• in rare cases when the skin is accidentally punctured with a sharp object contaminated with HIV-infected blood.
• Through sexual contact, including vaginal or anal intercourse and possibly by oral sex.

Who can get AIDS?
Anyone- Men, women, children, heterosexuals, homosexuals, people of all races and all economic and educational levels. It's not who you are that matters, it's what you do to protect yourself against AIDS that counts.

How can people protect themselves from AIDS?

• Learn the facts. Education is one of the best preventative measures available today.
• Maintain a monogamous relationship or limit sexual partners.
• Practice safe sex by using latex condoms and a spermicide containing nonoxynol-9
• Don't share hypodermic needles and syringes.

Anyone who has not been in a mutually monogamous relationship for at least the last six years should take the necessary precautions to prevent contracting or transmitting HIV.

More facts about AIDS
The HIV virus is only transmitted through infected blood, semen, vaginal secretions, or from mother to fetus and by infected breast milk. AIDS Cannot be transmitted through casual contact with someone who has AIDS or HIV positive.

• AIDS is NOT SPREAD by sneezing and coughing or being in the same room with someone who has AIDS or HIV positive.
• AIDS is NOT SPREAD by eating with or sharing eating utensils with someone who has AIDS or HIV positive.
• AIDS is NOT Spread by using the same bathroom, living in the same house, or going to school or work with someone who has AIDS or HIV positive.
• AIDS is NOT SPREAD through saliva, sweat or tears.
• You cannot get AIDS simply by being in the same swimming pool or hot tub with an HIV infected person.
• You cannot get AIDS from mosquitos.
• You cannot get AIDS by donating blood.

What are the symptoms of AIDS?
A person with HIV may not show any outward symptoms but is still capable of transmitting the virus to others. It can take anywhere from a few months to several years after HIV infection for HIV-related diseases to develop. It is not know with certainty how many of those infected with HIV will develop full-blown AIDS, but it is now believed\ that most will develop one or more of the following symptoms which indicate complications of HIV infection:

• Unexplained fatigue(two or more months)
• Fever combined with night sweats or shaking chills lasting longer than several weeks.
• Rapid weight loss of more than 15 pounds or 10% of body weight.
• Swollen lymph glands in the neck, armpits or groin.
• White spots or unusual blemishes in mouth
• Persistent diarrhea ( two or more months)
• Pink or purple flat or raised blotches or bumps occurring on or under the skin, inside the mouth, nose, eyelids, or anus.The blotches may resemble bruises initially, but do not disappear.
• Persistent dry cough which has lasted too long ( two or more months)

Each of the above symptoms can be associated with other less-serious diseases, so please consult a physician if you have any questions.

Is there a cure for AIDS?
AIDS is a fatal disease. At this time, there is no known cure for AIDS and there is no vaccine to prevent infection by the AIDS virus. Research on various drugs and vaccines is underway in the United States and other countries. Because of this research, the chances of finding a cure increase everyday. New medications, like protease inhibitors are being developed to fight or slow down the deconstructive process HIV and AIDS incurs.

Why is Education our best defense against AIDS?
The best defense we now have against AIDS is a well-informed public, but discrimination is a major obstacle. AIDS-related discrimination discourages people at risk from coming forward for testing and treatment. Knowledge, and information fight fear and discrimination.

Is there a test for AIDS?
The immune system of an HIV infected person will produce antibodies which can be detected in the blood with an HIV antibody test. This is not a test for AIDS, though most of those who test positive for the presence of this antibody will usually develop HIV-related illnesses or full-blown AIDS after a long incubation period.
If a person test positive for the HIV antibody, he or she should consult a physician to understand the medical implications of a positive test result.
A negative test result is a fairly good indicator that the person tested has not been infected by the virus- as long as the test is performed at least three months after any possible exposure to the virus.

Is AIDS an Epidemic?
Many people remember the polio epidemic which lasted from the1930's until 1954 when a vaccine was finally developed. AIDS is called an epidemic but scientists have made substantial progress in research on AIDS. Within four years of the AIDS epidemic, scientists have identified the virus that causes AIDS, discovered how it is transmitted, and developed a blood test that detects infection.

Where can you get information about AIDS?
The best resource in your community may be your city or government Health Department or a local chapter of the American red Cross. National AIDS programs exist in may countries. These agencies can provide accurate information about AIDS, state, and local health policies, and HIV antibody testing sites.

AIDS Organizations and Information Services
Centers for Disease Control Office of Public Inquiries
1600 Clifton Road, NW
Building 1, Room B63
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404)639-3534

American Red Cross
Office of HIV/AIDS Education
1709 New York, NW Suite 208
Washington, D.C. 20006
USA
(202) 639-3223

Telephone HOTLINES (Toll Free)
National AIDS Hotline1-800-342-AIDS
National AIDS Information Clearing House1-800-458-5231
NAPWA Computer Bulletin Board1-800-926-2792

Statistics about AIDS
Internationally

• Approximately 2.5 million people were newly infected with in 1994 with HIV, according to the most recent estimates published in January 1995 by Global Programmes on AIDS(GPA). This took the total number of people infected with HIV to 19.5 million, including 1.5 million children, since the start of the pandemic. (world Health Organization, Global Programmes on AIDS)
  
• 1 billion people worldwide my be infected during the early decades of the next century (Dr. William Hazeltine/Dana 2 Cancer Institute)
  
• As many as 10 million children may be infected with HIV by the end of this decade.
  

Global Implications of HIV and Business

• The majority of the world's infections have occurred through heterosexual transmission. (National Leadership Coalition on AIDS)
• Overseas, beyond humanitarian concerns, AIDS is likely to exact a heavier economic toll than other diseases. Economic costs of AIDS are estimated worldwide at between $350 billion and $500 billion by the year 2000. (National Leadership Coalition on AIDS)
• AIDS is systematically eliminating skilled workers, impoverishing countries, and de-stabilizing nations. For example, in the coffee growing region of southern Uganda, the AIDS epidemic is wiping out whole families, destroying farms and leaving fields unharvested and overgrown with weeds. Coffee, the backbone of Uganda's economy, may become the first industry to be destroyed by AIDS. The sugar plantations of Haiti, copper mining in Zambia are two other examples. (National 0 on AIDS)
  

United States

• It is estimated that approximately one million Americans are currently infected with HIV. This translates into one in every 250 people; one in 150 men; and one in 800 women.
• AIDS is the #1 cause of death of Americans between the ages of 25-44.
• Every 13 minutes one person is infected with the HIV virus.
• AIDS-related illness cause the death of one person every 13 minutes.
• While the rate of infection in the gay community is decreasing, it is increasing among heterosexuals, females and adolescent groups.
• Female rate of infection is six times that of males.

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