HIV, which stands for human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus that causes AIDS. This virus can be passed from one another through blood to blood and sexual contact. A person with HIV has an incredibly weak immune system, causing them to contract one of numerous disease that causes AIDS, which stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.CausesSomeone cannot "get" AIDS. They can only get the HIV virus. HIV is spread through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, breast milk, and other body fluids containing blood. Blood has the highest concentration of the virus, followed by semen, and then vaginal fluids. Breast milk also contains a high concentration of HIV. An adult, however can drink a small amount with no risk of getting the virus, while infants, with their small bodies and their developing immune system, is very much at risk.There are generally three ways to get the HIV virus: direct blood contact, including drug needles and blood transfusions, unprotected sex, and mother to baby, either before or during birth, or through breast milk.A needle can pass blood directly from one person's bloodstream to another. It is an easy way for HIV to quickly spread from one person to another. Also, if needles are not disposed properly, people can get infected. There has been a reported accident in which a nurse tripped and fell on a depressor of a syringe full of blood. The entire contents entered her body. Also reported was a lab worker who cut himself with a test-tube of infected blood. Since March 1985, all donated blood in the U.S. has been screened with the HIV antibody test. This practice has almost eliminated the risk of getting HIV through a blood transfusion. Before then, people had a larger chance of getting the virus from a person whose background was unclear.During sexual intercourse, whether anal or vaginal, HIV can slip in through unnoticed cuts and sores. The virus, however, has a lesser chance of entering the bloodstream during oral ...
