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The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that causes HIV infection. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the most advanced stage of HIV infection.

HIV is spread through contact with the blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, or breast milk of a person with HIV. HIV is spread mainly by having anal or vaginal sex or sharing drug injection equipment with a person who has HIV.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) or ARV as known in Kenya, is the use of HIV medicines to treat HIV infection. People on ART take a combination of HIV medicines (called an HIV regimen) every day.

ART can’t cure HIV infection, but it can help people with HIV live longer, healthier lives. HIV medicines can also reduce the risk of transmission of HIV.

HIV attacks and destroys the infection-fighting CD4 cells of the immune system. The loss of CD4 cells makes it difficult for the body to fight infections and certain cancers. Without treatment, HIV can gradually destroy the immune system and advance to AIDS.

HIV is spread through contact with certain body fluids from a person with HIV. These body fluids include: Blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids and breast milk.

The spread of HIV from person to person is called HIV transmission. The spread of HIV from a woman with HIV to her child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding is called mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

To reduce your risk of HIV infection, use condoms correctly and consistently during sex, limit your number of sexual partners, and never share drug injection equipment.

Mother-to-child transmission is the most common way that children become infected with HIV. HIV medicines, given to women with HIV during pregnancy and childbirth and to their babies after birth, reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

You can’t get HIV by shaking hands or hugging a person who has HIV. You also can’t get HIV from contact with objects such as dishes, toilet seats, or doorknobs used by a person with HIV. HIV does not spread through the air or through mosquito, tick, or other insect bites.