what is hiv

HIV stands for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and is a 'Retrovirus'. Retroviruses consist of Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) and were discovered by Robert Gallo in 1978. They contain a special viral enzyme called Reverse Transcriptase, which allows the virus to convert its RNA to DNA and then integrate, and take over, a cell's own genetic material. Once taken over, the new cell - now HIV infected - begins to produce new HIV retroviruses. HIV replicates in and kills the helper T cells, which are the body¡¯s main defense against illness.

HIV is ONLY spread through:

1. Sexual contact - unprotected vaginal or anal sex. Only condoms provide 'all-in-one' protection from pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections including HIV.
2. Direct innoculation of the virus - for example infection through contaminated needles
3. Contaminated blood products / transplanted organs. In the US all donated blood has been tested for HIV since 1985
4. An infected mother may sometimes pass the virus to her developing fetus during the birth or breast milk

In the first month to three months after a person is initially infected with the HIV virus is when that person is most infectious (i.e. meaning the amount of virus in their system is at its highest and T-cell counts are at their lowest). During the time, the body has not had time to react to the virus and produce an adequate immune response to start suppressing HIV.

More and more HIV viruses are produced and then released by a process known as budding. This means that when someone becomes infected with the HIV virus it begins to attack their immune system. This process is not visible and a person who is infected can look and feel perfectly well for many years and they may not know that they are infected. As their immune system weakens they become more vulnerable to illnesses that their immune system would normally have fought off. As time goes by they are likely to become ill more often and develop AIDS.