AIDS/HIV

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, better known as AIDS, is caused by the incurable HIV virus. AIDS is a deadly disease that deteriorates the immune system. There are two groups of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), HIV-1 that occurs throughout the world and HIV-2 that mainly occurs in Africa. The HIV virus enters the white blood cells and takes over the reproductive system of that cell and uses the system to reproduce itself. The white blood cell dies and the new HIV cells infect other white blood cells and repeat the process.

AIDS is transmitted through sexual contact, however, direct contact with infected blood can transmit the virus also. A pregnant woman can transmit the disease and infect her unborn child either prior to deliver, during delivery or from breast feeding. Recent studies have shown that administering the drug AZT prior to delivery can reduce this risk to 10%.

AIDS is a life and death issue and prevention of the virus is extremely important.

 

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