HIV and AIDS

What is HIV?

A history of AIDS

Note: Dates, facts, and figures in this article date from 2004.

HIV/AIDS was first diagnosed in Canada in 1982. Although it's been over 20 years since that first reported case, thousands of Canadians continue to become infected each year. Up to December 31, 2003, 19,344 AIDS cases have been reported to Health Canada but the total number of AIDS cases that have occurred in Canada since the epidemic began is estimated to be close to 20,000.

HIV/AIDS isn't restricted to Canada. According to the World Health Organization, the number of people living with HIV globally has also reached its highest level with an estimated 39.4 million people, up from an estimated 36.6 million in 2002. Of these, nearly half are women. A World Health Organization (WHO) report released November 23, 2004 and published in AIDS Epidemic Update 2004 shows that the number of women living with HIV has risen in each region of the world over the past two years. The sharpest increases occurred in East Asia, followed by Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In East Asia, there was a 56 percent increase over the past two years, followed by Eastern Europe and Central Asia with 48 percent.¹

What's the difference between HIV and AIDS?
When does HIV become AIDS?

Once the body can no longer fight infections, HIV disease is known as AIDS. On average, it takes 10 years to progress from an initial HIV infection to full-blown AIDS. People infected with HIV can live for a number of years with symptoms. Because they don't show any external signs or symptoms, they may unknowingly infect others. The only way to know if you're infected is to have an HIV blood test. (See more at Testing, also in this section.)

Over a period of years, HIV (or human immunodeficiency virus) attacks the body's immune system to the point it can no longer fight infection. Thus, those living with HIV more prone to infections such as pneumonia and other serious illnesses such as skin cancers and other types of cancers.

The infections associated with AIDS are commonly called "opportunistic" infections because they capitalize on the body's weakened immune system. In actuality, it is these opportunistic infections—and not AIDS—that cause death.

Although life-threatening, and although at present there is neither a cure nor a vaccine to prevent infection, HIV infection is largely preventable. (See Safer Sex for more information on the use of condoms.)

How is HIV spread? Who gets HIV?

HIV cannot survive outside the body. In order to become infected, the virus must enter your bloodstream.

HIV is spread through body fluids such as blood, semen, pre-semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. The HIV virus can also be found in saliva (spit), sweat, and tears, but only in very low amounts. These body fluids are not known to spread HIV infection.²

HIV is transmitted through:³

• unprotected sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, oral)
• shared sex toys
• shared needles or equipment for injecting drugs
• unsterilized needles for tattooing, skin piercing, or acupuncture
• pregnancy, delivery, and breast feeding, that is, from an HIV-infected mother to her infant. (Be sure to see Women and HIV, also in this section.
• occupational exposure in health care settings

Although the risk of contracting HIV from personal items is very low, toothbrushes and razors can have small traces of blood on them — from bleeding gums or shaving cuts. Sharing such items with someone who is infected with HIV could place you at risk for contracting the virus yourself.

Myths and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS

A common misconception about HIV is that you can get it from touching, hugging, or shaking hands with an infected person. No cases of AIDS or HIV infection linked to deep or French kissing have ever been reported—kissing is essentially a no-risk activity. HIV is not spread by everyday social contact.

You cannot get HIV by eating food handled, prepared by, or served by someone who is HIV positive, nor can you get it by sharing forks, spoons, knives, or drinking glasses. Sharing toilets, telephones, or clothing with an HIV-positive person does not increase your risk either. This is because HIV cannot be transmitted through urine, feces, vomit, or sweat.

Attending church or school, or frequenting shopping malls, restaurants, or public places where there are HIV-infected people does not put you at risk for becoming infected with HIV.

Insects (mosquitoes, for example) and pets cannot carry HIV.

It's also untrue that you can get HIV by donating blood. In Canada, the United States, and many countries, a new, sterile needle is used every time for every new blood donor, and in these countries, blood is always carefully screened for HIV. As a result, the chances of contracting HIV from a blood transfusion are very slim.

HIV/AIDS is not a "gay men's disease". In the 1980s—at the time of the early AIDS epidemic—HIV primarily affected men who have sex with men (MSM) and those who received blood and blood products. While MSM continue to make up the greatest number of new HIV infections, the current epidemic, measured from 1997, primarily affects injection drug users, MSM, and increasingly, women and Aboriginal people. The number of cases in all risk groups remains high.⁵

What's more, the World Health Organization reports that women are more physically susceptible to HIV infection than men. Male-to-female HIV transmission during sex is about twice as likely to occur as female-to-male transmission.⁶

How can I lower my chances of getting HIV?

Lower your chances of getting HIV by:⁷

• discussing HIV and other STIs (sexually transmitted infections) with your partner(s)
• considering other things like caressing and touching instead of having sex (outercourse)
• ensuring that you and any new sexual partner(s) are tested for HIV before having sex
• having sex only with a partner who agrees to protect both of you

Minimizing your risk

The HIV/AIDS virus can be transmitted from body to body through blood, semen, pre-ejaculate (pre-cum), vaginal secretions, and breast milk. There are several steps you can take to reduce your risk of HIV infection:⁸

• Use latex condoms to make sexual activity safer.
• Postpone or abstain from sexual activities and reduce your number of partners.
• Discuss HIV with your partner and have sex only with a partner who agrees to use a latex condom.
• Never share needles or injection equipment.
• If you are getting a tattoo, body piercing, or acupuncture, ensure that all equipment is sterile.
• If you are pregnant and concerned about HIV, talk with your doctor about being tested. Early treatment with medication can prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to baby before birth.
• If you have engaged in risky behavior, get tested.

Help! I think I might be in a high-risk category!

If you are sexually active and have been taking chances, please see a doctor, or go to a free clinic or to your local public health unit to make sure you don't have a sexually-transmitted infection (STI). Ask about HIV testing if you are worried that you might have HIV. Ask about anonymous HIV testing. You owe it to yourself, your partner, and your future.⁹

And remember, all the information you give is always kept private.

If you have become HIV positive, then your sex partners, or others with whom you have shared needles or other injecting equipment must be told that they also may have been in contact with the virus. They will have to decide if they wish to be tested for HIV.

You might want to tell them yourself, but if you are not comfortable, talk to your doctor or nurse—they can help.

Protect your partners from HIV.

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1. Number of women living with HIV increases in each region of the world. World Health Organization. (2004)
2. What you need to know about Sexually Transmitted Infections: HIV/AIDS. © Public Health Agency of Canada, 2004
3. It's Your Health: HIV/AIDS. © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Health, 2004
4. What you need to know about Sexually Transmitted Infections: HIV/AIDS. © Public Health Agency of Canada, 2004
5. It's Your Health: HIV/AIDS. © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Health, 2004
6. What you need to know about Sexually Transmitted Infections: HIV/AIDS.
© Public Health Agency of Canada, 2004
7. What you need to know about Sexually Transmitted Infections: HIV/AIDS. © Public Health Agency of Canada, 2004
8. It's Your Health: HIV/AIDS. © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Health, 2004
9. What you need to know about Sexually Transmitted Infections: HIV/AIDS. © Public Health Agency of Canada, 2004