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December 1 is World AIDS Day
BY ALLISON KOZICHAROW AND BERNICE BORN
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oday United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling for world action in the fight against acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS. He said, “To break the epidemic and prevent it from rebounding, we must act on all fronts. We need to more than double the number of people on life-changing treatment to reach all 37 million of those living with HIV.”
HIV/AIDS continues to pose a major global public health issue. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that HIV has claimed more than 34 million lives so far. Although there is no vaccine or cure for HIV/AIDS, antiretroviral drugs can allow an infected person to lead a healthy and productive life.
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, which attacks a person’s immune system. The HIV virus, unlike a cold or flu virus, never goes away, so a person who is HIV positive will always be HIV positive. The HIV virus infects immune system cells (called CD4 or T cells), which then spread to other cells. The loss of immune cells means that the body can more easily get other infections and diseases. AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection.
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HIV is spread through certain body fluids such as blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluids, vaginal fluid and breast milk. HIV is not spread through air or water, tears, sweat, shaking hands or sharing dishes/drinking glasses. Needle sharing when injecting drugs, tattooing with unsterilized needles and blood transfusions can trigger HIV. Mother to child transmission is a real concern because HIV-positive pregnant women can give the virus to their babies in the womb, during birth and through breast feeding.
It is estimated that currently no more than 53% of people with HIV know their status. Since presence of the virus can only be confirmed by special tests — some of which can deliver results in only a few minutes — getting tested is vital. HIV prevention consists of abstention from sex or the practice of safe sex — using condoms correctly, being responsible, staying sober and choosing monogamy.
WiRED offers 15 modules on HIV/AIDS. The series covers basic information, understanding the diagnosis and next steps, daily living with HIV, HIV-related infections and cancers, treatment, caring for someone with AIDS at home, HIV information for children and for teens, prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission and nutrition for HIV-positive people.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, “On this World AIDS Day, let us pay tribute to all those who have lost their lives to this disease by renewing our resolve to stand for justice, access and greater hope around the world.”
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