Even though there are many instances when a disease could be passed on to a person, in most cases, this disease is not actually transmitted from person to person.
In the case of HIV, there are multiple instances when transmission of the HIV virus occurs, and we have evidence that a person who has the virus can pass it to others who are uninfected. However, most people who get the disease don’t actually have it. In fact, some people have the HIV virus and do not know it.
The disease is called Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and it is a disease that has the ability to affect the immune system. Its very similar to herpes, where the virus destroys the cells that destroy the virus. As of this year, approximately 10,000 people in the US are now diagnosed with AIDS, so the true number is probably much higher. The problem is, most of these people are not aware of it.
HIV is only one of the viruses that affect the immune system. Other viruses that attack the immune system include hepatitis, herpes, Epstein-Barr, and cytomegalovirus. All of these viruses are often transmitted through sex. A person can get AIDS from sexual intercourse or from blood transfusions (though not necessarily from every one of them). The only way to know if someone has AIDS is to have the test that determines the likelihood of a person being infected.
While some people are unaware of their HIV status, there are many others who don’t know they’re infected. This is because they haven’t gotten tested. For most people, that testing takes place at doctor’s offices, emergency rooms, or in hospitals. At places like these, the test is usually a blood test that measures the amount of antibodies a person has in their blood. It is this test that aids tells you if someone has HIV.
Doctors and hospitals are a big part of the problem. Doctors don’t need to have HIV tests. They just need to be aware of it. In the US, in order for a doctor or hospital to be a provider of HIV testing, they would have to be able to make people aware they have HIV. They also don’t need to be able to tell if someone has HIV. Hospitals and doctors can test for HIV. The problem is that they aren’t doing that.
The American Public Health Association (APHA) is the main body that sets standards for HIV and other blood tests. It also has a website that explains HIV testing (www.health.org/hiv) which in turn has a forum called (www.hiv.org/forum). These folks are all under contract with a major drug company called A.H. Lundbeck and its subsidiary A.H. Laboratories.
APHA is a major player in the field of HIV testing and has many standards in place regarding testing, sample collection, and interpretation that are well respected. However, it is hardly alone in its approach. The American Society of Hematology, which also has a large number of members, has developed an approach that is in its own way similar to the APHA. However, their approach is much more practical and based on the individual patient’s medical condition.
Here, the situation is quite different. The problem with HIV testing and treatment is that it can be very specific and targeted. The vast majority of people diagnosed with HIV are men who have sex with men (MSM), and MSM are disproportionately affected by HIV. The MSM community has the most difficulty accessing HIV testing and treatment because of fear and stigma.
In the APHA model, the solution is simple – if you are diagnosed with HIV, you are automatically put on a list for testing and treatment. In other words, you are not given any information about your condition other than getting tested. However, in the case of aids and HIV, there are many factors that can lead to a person testing positive for these diseases. The result is that the APHA can have many people diagnosed with aids or HIV, but very few people actually receive appropriate treatment.