Since the late 1970s there has been a slowly growing and increasing pandemic. It is a pandemic that started off slowly and spread. At first it was thought that only people that could be infected were ones that lived a life style that many termed degenerative and/or alternative. Really, it was not until it was learned that babies, people that received contaminated blood/blood products, or were sexually involved with people that either had received these products and/or people who lived an alternative lifestyle. Personally, it really makes me think about what does this say about our society - an infectious disease that eventually caused death was not getting the press and research funds until normal heterosexuals were becoming infected. Eventually the causative agent of this epidemic was identified as a retrovirus that we all know now as Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS).

One of the biggest (and most frustrating) of issues that arises when the discussion of HIV/AIDS is brought up what information exactly should be given to children and young adults. HIV/AIDS is a preventable disease when the tools and knowledge are given to the people. This is information that requires us all to be honest and forth right with ourselves and those around us. It is a fact: most cases of HIV/AIDS are still acquired via sexual activity. It is another fact that new infections of HIV/AIDS are still increasing in all populations.

The spread of the virus can be minimized by taking the following precautions:
Testing for the HIV/AIDS every six months once a person becomes sexually active (and this includes oral sex).
Asking your partners if and when they have been tested and what the results of their test were.
Do not use IV drugs, or if you do, use a new needle each and every time and do not share them.

* Ask your sexual partners about their history of IV drug use.
* Using Condoms for each and every sexual act no if, ands, or buts.
* Knowing that HIV/AIDS is transmitted by the following bodily fluids:
-blood
-blood products
-semen (this includes pre-ejaculate, aka: pre-cum)
-vaginal fluids
-breast milk of infected mothers

While condoms do not prevent 100% of transmissions of HIV/AIDS and other STI/STDs they do help to greatly reduce the risk. Only Latex and Non latex condoms (that are not made from animals or animal by-products) can offer a degree of protection from HIV/AIDS when you are sexually active.

For HIV/AIDS testing (as well as a full STD/STI screening), you can contact your doctors office, you local board of health, and groups/clinics such as Planned Parenthood. Many places now offer low cost/free screening to the community.

As this poster shows, normal daily activities do not put you at an increased risk for HIV/AIDS even when you are coming into contact with people that are infected.

Graph from 2004 showing people infected with HIV/AIDS from www.alertnet.org

In 1987 the groupThe NAMES Project started what has become a world wide effort: the AIDS Quilt since then the group accomplished the following with their project: The names on the Quilt represent approximately 17.5% of all U.S. AIDS deaths. Funds Raised by the Quilt for Direct Services for People with AIDS: over $3,250,000 (U.S.) Number of Visitors to the Quilt: 15,200,000 Number of 12'x12' Sections of the Quilt: 5,748 Number of Panels in the Quilt: approximately 46,000 Number of Names on the Quilt: More than 83,900 Size: 1,293,300 square feet (the equivalent of 275 NCAA basketball courts with walkway, 185 courts without walkway) Miles of Fabric: 52.25 miles long (if all 3'x6' panels were laid end to end) Total Weight: More than 54 tons

Now there is also a Virtual Aids Quilt so that all can see what kind of devastating effects this virus has caused.

There are so many different parts of this whole topic that I could cover: testing methods, the pathology and virulence of HIV/AIDS, treatments, life after being diagnosed, etc but it would take pages and pages. In posting this PSA, it is the hope of the that we have offered some valuable information.

If you would like more information about HIV/AIDS, the links below have been chosen as they provide a great wealth of general knowledge for all people. For HIV/AIDS testing, you can contact your doctors office, you local board of health, and groups/clinics such as planned parenthood.

Sites for more information, help, and support:

This is the archive of past columns; enter if you dare!