1.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight
infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases.

2. AIDS is the late stage of HIV infection that occurs when the body’s immune system is badly
damaged because of the virus.

3. This occurred at the 1920s. Scientists suspect the virus jumped from chimps to humans when
people consumed infected chimpanzee meat. Once the virus mutated into what we now know
as HIV.

4. Unfortunately, people don’t have a medicine that can defeat this disease. That is why
prevention is the basis of the struggle.

5. The symptoms vary in type and severity from person-to-person.

There are three stages of HIV infection.

 Stage 1 after initial infection can feel like flu - not everyone will experience this.

 Stage 2 The time between exposure to HIV and when it becomes detectable in the blood is
called the HIV window period. It may last for 10 years or more without any symptoms.
 Stage 3 is when a person’s immune system is very badly damaged and can no longer fight off
serious infections and illnesses.

6. HIV transmission routes:

 Sexually
 The blood transfusion
 Through breast milk

7. Today, there is a unique analysis that allows in most cases to detect the HIV virus in the blood 3
weeks after infection. Patients have the opportunity to postpone the last stage of the disease
for a long time and extend their normal lives.

8. 35 MILLION PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY INFECTED WITH HIV INFECTION.

9. The 1st of December is a World AIDS Day. People all over the world come together to
demonstrate support for people living with HIV and remember those who have died from AIDS-
related illnesses.

10. A large number of HIV-infected people do not go to medical facilities for help, because they fear
discrimination.
11. There are many myths about the ways of infection. So, we must know that HIV does NOT spread
through:
skin-to-skin contact sharing food or drinks, including drinking
fountains
hugging, shaking hands, or kissing saliva, tears, or sweat
air or water mosquitoes or other insects

12. ONLY MUTUAL SUPPORT AND AWARENESS WILL HELP US COPE WITH THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE.