HIV and Aids Factsheet

Statistics
1. HIV is one of the world's leading infectious killers, claiming more than 25 million lives over the past three decades.

2. There were approximately 34 million people living with HIV in 2010.

3. In 2010, around 6.6 million people living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy in low- and middle-income countries, but over 7 million others are waiting for access to treatment.

Improvement
According to a UN report, the number of people getting infected is falling. Between 2001 and 2011, the number of people newly infected dropped by 33%. In 2012, 290,000 fewer children under age 15 were infected with HIV than in 2001.
Source: The Millennium Development Goals Report 2013, United
Nations, 2013http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/Goal_6_fs.pdf

No know cure
A cure for HIV infection has not been found but with effective treatment with antiretroviral drugs, patients can control the virus and enjoy healthy and productive lives.

Condoms
Evidence shows that male latex condoms have an 85% or greater protective effect against the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). (WHO)

ART (Anti Retroviral Treatment)
A new trial has confirmed if an HIV-positive person adheres to an effective antiretroviral therapy regimen, the risk of transmitting the virus to their uninfected sexual partner can be reduced by 96%. WHO is recommending ART as a key part of HIV prevention strategies.

Body fluids
These body fluids have been shown to contain high concentrations of HIV are blood, semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk, other body fluids containing blood

Mosquitoes and insect bites
There is evidence that Mosquitoes and other insects cannot transmit HIV virus from the bite of an infected person to another person. This is so because when an insect bites a person, it does not inject its own or a previously bitten person's or animal's blood into the next person bitten. Rather, it injects saliva, which acts as a lubricant so the insect can feed efficiently.

Kissing and HIV
There is no risk of transmission by closed-mouth kissing, or cheek to cheek, or mouth to cheek kissing. However there is some risk from deep, open-mouth kissing if there are sores or bleeding gums and blood is exchanged. Therefore, persons living with HIV should avoid this behavior with a non-infected partner.