FACT
Fighting AIDS Continuously Together
it’s a FACT!

At least 40,000 Americans become newly infected with HIV each year, and it is estimated that half of all people with HIV in the U.S. have not been tested and do not know they are carrying the virus.
FACT of Bucks County

Did You Know…?

What is HIV?

HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS. A member of a group of viruses called retroviruses, HIV infects human cells and uses the energy and nutrients provided by those cells to grow and reproduce.
950,000 people in the U.S. are infected with HIV.

What is AIDS?

AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a disease in which the body's immune system breaks down and is unable to fight off certain infections, known as "opportunistic infections," and other illnesses that take advantage of a weakened immune system.

HIV can be past through:

A person who is HIV-infected carries the virus in certain body fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk.

  • Unprotected sexual intercourse (either vaginal or anal) with someone who is HIV infected.
  • Unprotected oral sex with someone who is HIV infected.
  • Sharing needles or syringes with someone who is HIV infected.
  • Infection during pregnancy, childbirth, or breast-feeding (mother-to-infant transmission).

The Centers for Disease Control has reported 816,149 AIDS cases through December of 2001
Through December of 2001 there have been 467,910 AIDS deaths in the U.S. 40,000 new cases of HIV occur in the U.S. annually.
50% of those cases are in the 15 to 24 year old age group.
HIV has an average incubation period of 10 years…no symptoms!
In the past decade AIDS cases in adult and adolescent women have more than tripled.
The four bodily fluids that pass HIV from one infected person to another are: blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal secretions.
Anal intercourse is the highest risk sexual activity for passing HIV from one person to another.
Many individuals are contracting HIV from unprotected oral sex. They do not realize that there is a higher concentration of HIV in pre-ejaculate than the ejaculate itself.
Women are getting infected at a much higher rate than men from heterosexual vaginal intercourse.
Latex condoms and dental dams will prevent the spread of HIV.

More Information…

Find more facts about AIDS and HIV by visiting these sites:

Free Testing…

Prevention and education is the key to staying HIV free. You can get FREE and anonymous testing in many clinics and facilities in your area! Here are just a few:

 

Did You Know…?
STD Facts and Statistics

The Centers for Disease Control has stated that the most under recognized health problem in the U.S. is the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
More than 65 million people are living with an incurable STD
There are 15 million new cases of STD’s each year.
Herpes, Gonorrhea, and Chlamydia continue to resurge and spread through the population.
For the first time in many years Syphilis is on the incline in the U.S.
One in four people under the age of 21 in the U.S. has an STD.

Chlamydia

  • Most frequently reported STD.
  • There are 3 million new cases annually.
  • 75% of the women and 50% of the men infected have no symptoms.
  • For those who do have symptoms, one will experience abnormal vaginal discharge, or burning when urinating. They may have lower back pain, nausea, fever and pain during intercourse, and bleeding between periods.

    Can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease if left untreated. 20% of those individuals become sterile.
  • Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics.
  • The Centers for Disease Control recommends annual screening of all sexually active females under the age of 20, or over 20 if you have multiple partners and don’t use condoms.
  • Latex condoms will prevent the spread of Chlamydia.

Gonorrhea

  • Second in number to Chlamydia for bacterial infections
  • 650,000 cases annually in U.S.
  • Can infect all areas of reproductive tract, urethra, anus, mouth and throat. Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics.
  • Initial infection majority of men have symptoms - burning upon urination, yellowish-white discharge and sometimes painful, swollen testicles.
  • Women-early symptoms are mild. Many have no symptoms. May have burning sensation upon urination, yellow or occasionally bloody discharge.
  • People with mild or no symptoms still at risk for developing serious complications – Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.
  • Can be treated with antibiotics.
  • Latex and polyurethane condoms will prevent the spread of gonorrhea.

Herpes

  • 45 million people age 12 and over in the US are infected with genital herpes.
  • One in five adolescents and adults are infected
  • Herpes is more common in women.
  • A person who has sexual contact with someone who has HSV-2 (genital herpes) almost always contracts it.
  • HSV-1 causes fever blister. One can get it from coming into contact with the individual’s saliva. During oral sex, HSV-1 can spread to the genitals.
  • Infection stays in the body. An outbreak can occur weeks or months after the first exposure.
  • During an outbreak, blisters form and leaving tender ulcers that can take 10 days to 2 weeks to heal.
  • Virus is found and released from the sores. It is also released between episodes from skin that does not appear to have a sore.
  • The virus stays in the body and one experiences outbreaks during periods of stress over the years.
  • Latex condoms will prevent the spread of herpes.

Human Papillomavirus or HPV

  • 20 million people in the US are infected with HPV.
  • Group of viruses that includes more than 100 strains – 30 of these are sexually transmitted.
  • Some cause genital warts, which have a cauliflower like shape.
  • Others can cause abnormal pap smears and cancer of the cervix, anus and penis.
  • 50 to 75 % of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV at some point.
  • Mostly spread through sexual contact. Most HPV infections have no symptoms, but it can be transmitted to the partner.
  • Virus lives in skin or mucous membrane.
  • There is no cure. The infection usually goes away on its own.
  • Cancer related types are more likely to persist. Persistent infection is the key risk factor to cervical cancer.
  • Abstinence is most effective prevention.
  • Condoms will reduce the spread of HPV, but not eliminate it.

 
   
Annual Cases
People Currently Infected
       
 
3,000,000
2,000,000
 
650,000
 
70,000
 
1,000,000
45,000,000
 
Hepatitis B
120,000
417,000
 
Human Papillomavirus
5,500,000
20,000,000
 
5,000,000
 
HIV
40,000
900,000
 

What Are Some Health Risks of STD Infection?
STDs can result in irreparable lifetime damage, including blindness, bone deformities, mental retardation, and death for infants infected by their mothers during gestation or birth.
In women, STDs can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, potentially fatal ectopic pregnancies, and cancer of the reproductive tract.

Eye-Opening Statistics

Consequences of alcohol abuse on college campuses
  • 1,700 college students die each year from alcohol related accidents (mostly from falls, drowning, and automobile crashes).
  • Over 300 die from alcohol poisoning.
  • 500,000 unintentional injuries are due to alcohol abuse.
  • Over 600,000 students are assaulted by another student who has been drinking.
  • Over 79,000 students are victims of sexual assault or date rape on campuses. Alcohol is usually involved in the situation.
  • Over 150,000 students developed health problems due to drinking. 6% develop a dependence.
  • 25% of college students have stated that alcohol abuse has hurt their academic performance .
  • 400,000 students report having unprotected sex when drinking, which puts them at risk for unwanted pregnancies or STD’S.

STD’s

  • One in 4 people under the age of 21 is infected with an STD in the US.
  • More than 65 million are living with an incurable sexually transmitted disease in the US.
  • There are 15 million new cases of STD’s each year.
  • For the first time in many years Syphilis is on the incline in the US.
  • 70,000 cases of Syphilis annually
  • 3 million new cases of Chlamydia annually
  • 650,000 cases Gonorrhea annually
  • 1 million new cases of genital herpes annually
  • One in five adolescents and adults are infected with genital herpes.
  • 45 million people age 12 and over are infected with genital herpes.
  • 20 million people in the US are infected with HPV or Human Papillomavirus.
  • 1 million people are infected with HIV/AIDS in the United States.
  • 40,000 new cases of HIV infection occur annually. Fifty percent of those cases occur in the 15 to 24 year old age group.

AIDS in Pennsylvania
Provided by the Philadelphia AIDS Consortium...Click Here