December 1, today, is World AIDS Day - a day to promote awareness about the disease. Now, for 20 years people have been pretty aware that it's out there, but you would not believe the misconceptions and misinformation out there. So I'm taking this opportunity to enlighten anyone who may wander here and need it.

1. You're at risk if you're straight. Yes, you are. In 2001, the story of a journalist shocked by her diagnosis highlighted the problems facing dating singles - regardless of age or sexuality. And regardless of how well you know the person you're with.

2. A woman can give HIV to her nursing baby. Until 6-9 months of age, the baby does not have its own immune system. This is why babies become ill so easily. They rely on antibodies from their mother (this is also why a baby may test HIV-positive with the older ELISA test and then later be HIV-negative - they were the mother's antibodies not the baby's).

So breast milk is very important to a baby - but it can also infect them with HIV, which is transmitted via the milk. When I taught HIV/AIDS a few years ago the data was something like 2 million babies a year are infected this way, but I can't locate current numbers. Women who breast feed should be on anti-retrovirals to prevent the virus from replicating, reducing transmission. See Avert for the full recommendations. 

Adults should avoid contact with an infected woman's breast milk!

3. HIV can be directly detected in fluids. The old ELISA tests only detected antibodies to the virus, indicating exposure, not necessarily infection (which is why it took more than one test to confirm a diagnosis). However, there are now RNA tests that directly detect the genome of the virus, meaning the direct detection of the presence of the virus. For more on testing visit the National Testing Resource.

4. AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection. HIV is a virus that kills immune cells. Over time this compromises the immune system, allowing opportunistic infections to invade. The varying syndrome of infection by these pathogens in the presence of a low T cell count is AIDS. HIV causes AIDS.

5. There is no cure for AIDS. The only sure prevention method is to avoid HIV infection - which means practicing safe sex, proper health care gloving procedures, not sharing needles, and maintaining a safe and regulated blood and tissue supply. There have been many treatments in the last 15 years that have greatly prolonged the life expectancy of HIV-positive patients, but these are not cures. Some people may put AIDS off for 10 or 20 years, but not everyone responds to treatment and the virus is showing resistance.

Don't go through life thinking it can't happen to you or that you'll just take a medicine and be done with it. HIV infection is a life long monkey on your back.

Protect yourself, and each other!