You must have been heard about HIV and AIDS. HIV(Human Immuno Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS(Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). If you are infected with HIV, you will experience some 'flue-like' symptoms. However, it lasts only few days. You would feel healthy again and have no problem. It takes about 10 years from the date of the infection to experience the signs of AIDS. The period between HIV infection and appearance of AIDS depends on the infected person's health. If he is healthy, the period might be longer.
There are several things people think as a way of transmission of HIV.
-kissing
-shaking hands
-hugging
-using a toilet
-drinking from the same glass
-sneezing
-coughing
Do you think that you can get HIV from this kind of casual contacts? If you say yes, you're wrong. It's not true. You could never get the virus through this casual contact so there's no problem living with the infectee.
And the follow's are prevalent knowledges about AIDS.
-AIDS is a genetic disease.
-You would get HIV right away if you slept with an infected person.
-You could get HIV if you shared a needle with an infected person.
-Breast mild can transmit HIV from a mother to a baby.
The first one is wrong. Many people believe that it's true but scientists and doctors found out that AIDS was not a genetic disease. The virus could be transmitted during the delivery if mother was infected. However, if the doctor was carefule enough, the baby would not get HIV.
The second one is wrong either, in spite of the prevalent idea. Even though having sex is one of the strongest way of transmission, the possibility is very low. It's usually under 1%. (0.1~1.0%) So, continuous sex can be dangerous, but having sex once is usually not serious.
The third one is true but the possibility is low, too. Scientists reported the possibility as 0.7%.
Last one is true. Breast milk has the virus in it. Because a baby has a very weak immune system, he would get HIV very easily if mother was infected.
The reason why I wanted to talk about AIDS is that a lot of people are suffering from the prejudice. It is the prejudice not the disease which kills them. People around them regard them as criminals or animals. The infected people are isolated from their family, friends, and jobs. They are even losing basic human rights. It's sad but it's the reality. What we can do is to open mind to them and to take off our colored glasses! It really makes difference.
