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HIV/AIDS
INFORMATION
> THE RED RIBBON
What is the red ribbon?
The Red Ribbon is the international symbol of HIV and AIDS
awareness. It stands for:
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CARE
AND CONCERN
For those who are living with HIV, for those who are ill, for
those who have died and for those who care for and support those
directly affected.
HOPE
That the search for a vaccine and cure to halt the suffering is
successful and the quality of life improves for those living
with the virus.
SUPPORT
For the continuing education of those not infected, for
maximum efforts to find effective treatments, cures or vaccines,
and for those who have lost friends, family members or loved
ones to AIDS. |
> THE BASIC FACTS
What is HIV?
HIV - the human immunodeficiency virus - is a virus that kills
your body’s "CD4 cells." CD4 cells, also called T-helper cells,
help your body fight off infection and disease. (1)
What is AIDS?
AIDS - the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - is a disease you
get when HIV destroys your body’s immune system. Normally, your
immune system helps you fight off illness. When your immune
system fails you can develop any number of diseases or cancers.
(1)
What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS, the most advanced stage of
HIV disease. A weakened immune system caused by HIV will allow
opportunistic infections (OIs) to develop. A healthy immune
system would normally fight these infections while an
HIV-weakened immune system is susceptible. (2)
What do I need to know about HIV?
The first cases of AIDS were identified in the United States in
1981, but AIDS most likely existed here and in other parts of
the world for many years before that time. In 1984 scientists
proved that HIV causes AIDS. (1)
How does someone get HIV?
These are the most common ways that HIV is transmitted from one
person to another:
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by having sex
(anal, vaginal, or oral) with an HIV-infected person;
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by sharing
needles or injection equipment with an injection drug user who
is infected with HIV; or
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from
HIV-infected women to their babies before or during birth, or
through breast-feeding after birth.
HIV also can be
transmitted through receipt of infected blood or blood clotting
factors. However, since 1985, all donated blood in the United
States has been tested for HIV. Therefore, the risk of infection
through transfusion of blood or blood products is extremely low.
The U.S. blood supply is considered to be among the safest in
the world.
You cannot get HIV:
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By working with
or being around someone who has HIV.
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From sweat,
spit, tears, clothes, drinking fountains, phones, toilet
seats, or through everyday things like sharing a meal.
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From insect
bites or stings.
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From donating
blood.
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From a
closed-mouth kiss (but there is a very small chance of getting
it from open mouthed or "French" kissing with an infected
person because of possible blood contact). (1)
What are ways
to reduce the risk of getting HIV or another STD?
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Choose not to
have sex, or have safe sex. Make an agreement with a partner
who is not HIV-positive to be sexually faithful to each other,
and stick to it.
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If you are
HIV-positive and you are pregnant, see your health care
provider to get appropriate treatment. Treatments are
available to significantly reduce the risk of passing the
infection to your child during pregnancy and delivery.
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Do not share
needles for any kind of injection drug use.
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Get tested and
ask partners to do the same. (2)
Is there a
cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS?
There is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but it is preventable. Protect
yourself. (1)
>
HIV/AIDS in the United States
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AIDS cases have
been reported in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and
the U.S. territories.
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As many as
one-third of those infected with HIV do not know they are HIV
positive.
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The CDC
estimated number of diagnoses of AIDS through 2002 in the
United States is 886,575.
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Adult and
adolescent AIDS cases total 877,275 with 718,002 cases in
males and 159,271 cases in females.
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Through the
same time period, 9,300 AIDS cases were estimated in children
under age 13.
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Estimated
number of deaths of persons with AIDS is 501,669, including
496,354 adults and adolescents, and 5,315 children under age
15.
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The US Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more
than 500,000 Americans with AIDS have already died, and almost
1 million more are currently living with HIV.
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There is no
cure for HIV/AIDS and the number of new infections occurring
annually in the U.S. has not decreased in the last decade,
remaining constant at approximately 40,000 each year.
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Advances in
treatment have dramatically decreased the number of people who
have died of AIDS.
(1&2)
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HIV/AIDS in the Missouri
(through December 2002)
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Cumulative
number of AIDS cases reported: 10,006
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Cumulative
number of Adult/Adolescent AIDS cases: 9,946
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Cumulative
number of AIDS cases in children <13: 60
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Distribution of
cumulative AIDS cases by sex: Male 9,019; Female: 987
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Distribution of
cumulative AIDS cases by Race/Ethnicity: White: 6,274; Black:
3,381; Hispanic: 284; Asian/Pacific Islander: 28; American
Indian: 36; Unknown:3
(3)
>
HIV/AIDS in Youth
COMING
SOON
(1) Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
(2) knowhivaids.org
(3) The Kaiser Family Foundation
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