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What is
HIV?
HIV (human immunodeficiency
virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. This virus is passed from
one person to another through blood-to-blood and sexual contact.
In addition, infected pregnant women can pass HIV to their baby
during pregnancy or delivery, as well as through breast-feeding.
People with HIV have what is called HIV infection. Most of these
people will develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection.
These body fluids have been
proven to spread HIV:
- blood
- semen
- vaginal fluid
- breast milk
- other body fluids containing
blood
These are additional body
fluids that may transmit the virus that health care workers may
come into contact with:
- cerebrospinal fluid surrounding
the brain and the spinal cord
- synovial fluid surrounding
bone joints
- amniotic fluid surrounding
a fetus
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