HIV & AIDS -- Do you know the facts?

November 9, 9:51 AMGrand Rapids Holistic Health ExaminerMichelle L. Davis

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 Did you know.... How prevalent HIV and AIDS are in the United States?

• Every 9.5 minutes (on average) someone in the United States is infected with HIV the virus that causes AIDS.
• More than 1 million US citizens are currently living with HIV.
• Of those 1 million people, 1 out of 5 do not know they are infected. Which means they do not know they  have HIV and can without knowing be passing it to their partners.
• Of the estimated 35,962 new AIDS diagnoses in 2007, 11% were in the Midwest, 25% in the Northeast, 46% in the South, and 17% were in the West.
• For more information about the HIV AIDS epidemic in the United States please visit http://nineandahalfminutes.org

Did you know...The history of HIV and AIDS?

• 1981--AIDS was first reported.
• 1984--AIDS was identified as being caused by human retrovirus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
• For a complete timeline of the history of HIV and AIDS please see http://fohn.net/history-of-aids/timeline.html

Did  you know...How HIV and AIDS is transmitted?

• HIV is most commonly spread by having unprotected anal, vaginal, or oral sex with one who is infected with HIV.
• By sharing needles or syringes with someone who is infected with HIV.
• From mothers to their babies before the baby is born, during birth, or through breast-feeding.

Did you know...How HIV and AIDS is NOT transmitted?

• You do NOT get HIV from air, food, water, insects, animals, dishes, silverware, toilet seats or anything else that does not involve blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or breast-milk.
• For more information regarding the transmission of HIV please visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC) at http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/