HIV and Aids
Thursday, 21 Feb 2008 09:21
What are HIV and Aids?
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, which causes people to develop Aids.
It damages the body's immune system, making it more susceptible to certain infections. People with HIV can live with it for many years without it developing into Aids.
There are four main ways people can be infected with HIV:
- Vaginal or anal sex without a condom with someone who has HIV
- Sharing drug-injecting equipment that is contaminated with infected blood
- From a woman with HIV to her baby during pregnancy, at birth or through breastfeeding
- Injecting or transfusing blood from an infected person
There is no vaccine to prevent HIV and at present there is no cure for Aids. There are drugs that interfere with the way the virus tries to reproduce itself but they cannot kill the virus completely. Instead they control HIV and delay the onset of Aids.
Aids - acquired immune deficiency syndrome - is a collection of rare infections and cancers that people with HIV can develop. Getting one of these leads to a person being diagnosed with Aids.
(Source: National Aids Trust)
Key statistics
- An estimated 73,000 adults are now living with HIV in the UK
- Around a third (21,600) are unaware of their HIV status
- In 2006, 7,093 people were diagnosed with HIV in the UK
- There were an estimated 750 new HIV diagnoses in 2006 thought to be due to heterosexual HIV transmission within the UK
- There were just over 2,700 new diagnoses of HIV infection in gay men during 2006
- Across the globe there are 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children
(Source: Health Protection Agency/Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and Aids)
Campaigns
In July 2001 the government launched a sexual health and HIV strategy aimed at modernising the UK's sexual health services.
The Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV was created in 2003 to monitor the government's progress on the implementation of this strategy.
The government's Condom Essential Wear campaign is currently working to normalise condom use and highlight the dangers of unprotected sex.
For more on practicing safe sex click here
Quotes
"The stigma and secrecy attached to HIV is having a direct impact on young people's ability worldwide to access information and talk openly about their fears and concerns about the spread of this devastating pandemic.
"Many young people view HIV as a shameful secret, and we need to ensure that we demystify these fears and help young people to be more aware of the risks and how to protect themselves."
Alyson Lewis, HIV advisor at the British Red Cross
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"We need to reinforce the safe sex message for gay men, young adults and the broader community. The best way to protect yourself from contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) including HIV is by practising safer sex by using a condom with all new and casual partners."
Professor Pete Borriello, director of the HPA's centre for infections
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"Only with a concerted effort can we address ignorance and complacency among young people."
Deborah Jack, chief executive of the National Aids Trust