HIV does not discriminate; anyone who has engaged in a risk activity can be infected with HIV regardless of age, gender, economic back ground, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnic origin, etc.

At the end of 2006, it was estimated that between 12,200 to 13,000 people in British Columbia are living with HIV/AIDS.

More HIV statistics can be found here.

At the end of 2006, it was estimated that between 60,000 and 62,000 people in Canada were living with HIV/AIDS. It is also estimated that 27% of HIV positive Canadians are unaware of their infection.

More HIV statistics can be found here.

As of December of 2007, it was estimated that 33.2 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. (UNAIDS)

More HIV statistics can be found here.

Window Period

The window period is the time between when you are exposed to HIV and when a blood test will be able to measure the antibodies your immune system creates to fight HIV. It can take anywhere from four weeks to three months after HIV enters your body to develop enough antibodies to be measured on an HIV test. Most people will develop enough antibodies to test accurately for HIV from four to six weeks.

There may be some short term symptoms of infection, but without an HIV test you won't know for sure if you have the virus.

Asymptomatic Period

The asymptomatic period is the time when HIV is in your body but your immune system is strong so there may be no symptoms of infection. The virus may be active and harming your immune system but you can feel as healthy as ever.

Symptomatic Period

The symptomatic period is when HIV becomes more active in your body. The virus has weakened your immune system after living in your body for a while. Symptoms of HIV infection may begin to appear, or re-appear.

AIDS Diagnosis

A person is diagnosed with AIDS when he/she has HIV plus one or moreof the illnesses specific to the syndrome. At this stage a person has generally been living with HIV for many years and the immune system is severely damaged.

In most cases one of the "opportunistic infections" will eventually cause the death of the person living with AIDS.

While AIDS can still be a fatal illness, some drugs are now being used that can reduce HIV's damage to the immune system, delay symptoms, prevent opportunistic infections, and prolong life.

Some people with HIV develop symptoms which can be like those of many other conditions:

• Chronic yeast infections in the vagina, in the ears, on the tongue
• Frequently tired
• Diarrhea
• Dramatic weight loss
• Swollen lymph glands on the neck and in the armpits
• Sweating a lot while you sleep
• Fever that won't go away

Such symptoms are often caused by common illnesses and not by HIV infection. If you have concerns about these symptoms, you should check with a doctor or health care practitioner.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. AIDS is caused by prolonged infection with HIV. Once HIV infection has significantly weakened an individual’s immune system to the point where they are unable to fight off opportunistic infections, that person is diagnosed as having AIDS.

HIV or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a virus that only infects humans.
A person diagnosed with HIV infection is referred to as being HIV positive.

Once HIV enters the bloodstream, it inserts itself into the cells that make up the immune system and then begins to multiply. The HIV virus attacks the immune system slowly making it easier for a person to get a variety of illnesses known as opportunistic infections. In some cases it may take years for a person to start feeling and looking ill as a result of being HIV positive. During this symptom-less or ‘asymptomatic period’, an HIV positive person can still infect others with the disease.