 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Content Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention |
© 2007 Abesha Care Inc. All Right Reserved. office@abeshacare.org
Why do some people make statements that HIV does not cause AIDS?
The epidemic of HIV and AIDS has attracted much attention both within and outside
the medical and scientific communities. Much of this attention comes from the many
social issues related to this disease such as sexuality, drug use, and poverty.
Although the scientific evidence is overwhelming and compelling that HIV is the cause
of AIDS, the disease process is still not completely understood. This incomplete
understanding has led some persons to make statements that AIDS is not caused by
an infectious agent or is caused by a virus that is not HIV. This is not only misleading,
but may have dangerous consequences. Before the discovery of HIV, evidence from
epidemiologic studies involving tracing of patients’ sex partners and cases occurring
in persons receiving transfusions of blood or blood clotting products had clearly
indicated that the underlying cause of the condition was an infectious agent. Infection
with HIV has been the sole common factor shared by AIDS cases throughout the world
among men who have sex with men, transfusion recipients, persons with hemophilia,
sex partners of infected persons, children born to infected women, and occupationally
exposed health care workers.
The conclusion after more than 20 years of scientific research is that people, if
exposed to HIV through sexual contact or injecting drug use for example, may become
infected with HIV. If they become infected, most will eventually develop AIDS.
The epidemic of HIV and AIDS has attracted much attention both within and outside
the medical and scientific communities. Much of this attention comes from the many
social issues related to this disease such as sexuality, drug use, and poverty.
Although the scientific evidence is overwhelming and compelling that HIV is the cause
of AIDS, the disease process is still not completely understood. This incomplete
understanding has led some persons to make statements that AIDS is not caused by
an infectious agent or is caused by a virus that is not HIV. This is not only misleading,
but may have dangerous consequences. Before the discovery of HIV, evidence from
epidemiologic studies involving tracing of patients’ sex partners and cases occurring
in persons receiving transfusions of blood or blood clotting products had clearly
indicated that the underlying cause of the condition was an infectious agent. Infection
with HIV has been the sole common factor shared by AIDS cases throughout the world
among men who have sex with men, transfusion recipients, persons with hemophilia,
sex partners of infected persons, children born to infected women, and occupationally
exposed health care workers.
The conclusion after more than 20 years of scientific research is that people, if
exposed to HIV through sexual contact or injecting drug use for example, may become
infected with HIV. If they become infected, most will eventually develop AIDS.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |