V - Virus, because the organism is a virus, which means one of its characteristics is that it is incapable of reproducing by itself. It needs a human cell to reproduce itself.

What is HIV Disease?

Answer: The disease caused by HIV that attacks and destroys a person's immune system until it is not able to fight off infection. Most doctors use the term "HIV disease" to cover the entire HIV spectrum or progression, from initial infection to AIDS.

During the Asymptomatic HIV Disease, a person may be infected with HIV and not show any outward symptoms for up to 8-12 years. When a person begins to have severe and persistent symptoms, it is called Symptomatic HIV Disease.

However any individual who is infected with HIV (that is, anyone who tests positive on the HIV antibody test) has "HIV disease."

HIV most often spreads through unprotected sex with an infected person. AIDS may also spread by sharing drug needles or through contact with the blood of an infected person. Women can give it to their babies during pregnancy or childbirth.

The first signs of HIV infection may be swollen glands and flu-like symptoms. These may come and go a month or two after infection. Severe symptoms may not appear until months or years later.

A blood test can tell if you have HIV infection. Your health care provider can perform the test, or call the National AIDS hotline for a referral at (800) 342-AIDS (1-800-342-2437). There is no cure, but there are many medicines to fight both HIV infection and the infections and cancers that come with it. People can live with the disease for many years.

HIV is spread through some of the body's fluids. HIV is in:

blood
semen
vaginal fluids
breast milk
some body fluids sometimes handled by health care workers (fluids surrounding the brain and spinal cord, bone joints, and around an unborn baby)

HIV is passed from one person to another by:

having sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) with a person who has HIV
sharing needles with a drug user who has HIV
during pregnancy, birth, or breast-feeding if a mother has HIV
getting transfusions of blood with HIV

HIV is the virus that leads to AIDS. The very first case of AIDS was recognized in the U.S during 1981 but it is believed that the virus is already in existence in other parts of the world long before it is recognized.

It is in 1984, that scientist found out that HIV is the main cause of AIDS.

How a person can get HIV?

Transmission of HIV through unprotected sex
Sharing of needles with HIV infected person
Blood transfusion to which the blood donor is infected with HIV
Mother to daughter or breast feeding

However these are the ways that will NOT infect you with HIV

Insect bites
Working around with someone who has HIV
Toilet seats

Human immunodeficiency is the virus that later leads to AIDS. Medical health officials believe that HIV originated from sub Saharan region of Africa in the 1980�s but it was belief that the existence of AIDS is longer than its first actual recognition.

In 1984, scientist found out that the main cause of AIDS is HIV.

How HIV is transmitted?

1. Sharing of needles with HIV infected person
2. Blood transfusion from HIV infected donor
3. Unprotected sex
4. Transmission from mother to daughter through pregnancy or breast feeding.

However, insect bites, toilet seats and just working around with someone who has HIV will not infect you with HIV.

Understanding What is HIV Recommended Resources:

Stanford University

Brown University