More than 830,000 cases of AIDS have been reported in the United States since 1981. As many as 950,000 Americans may be infected with HIV, one-quarter of whom are unaware of their infection. The epidemic is growing most rapidly among minority populations and is a leading killer of African-American males ages 25 to 44. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), AIDS affects nearly seven times more African Americans and three times more Hispanics than whites.

In New Jersey there are 30,794 people who are living with HIV or AIDS. In Passaic County there are 2442 people known to be living with the virus. Only Essex County has more. It is estimated that for every four people who are diagnosed there is one who does not. That means that there are approximately 600 people in the county who may be HIV positive and do not know their status.

HOW IS HIV TRANSMITTED?

HIV is spread most commonly by having unprotected sex with an infected partner. The virus can enter the body through the lining of the vagina, vulva, penis, rectum, or mouth during sex.

HIV frequently is spread among injection drug users by the sharing of needles or syringes contaminated with very small quantities of blood from someone infected with the virus. It is possible that sharing needles used for body piercing or tattooing can spread the virus.

Women can transmit HIV to their babies during pregnancy or birth. Approximately one-quarter to one-third of all untreated pregnant women infected with HIV will pass the infection to their babies. HIV also can be spread to babies through the breast milk of mothers infected with the virus. If the mother takes the drug AZT during pregnancy, she can significantly reduce the chances that her baby will get infected with HIV. If health care providers treat mothers with AZT and deliver their babies by cesarean section, the chances of the baby being infected can be reduced to a rate of 1 percent.

Studies of families of HIV-infected people have shown clearly that HIV is not spread through casual contact such as the sharing of food utensils, towels and bedding, swimming pools, telephones, or toilet seats. HIV is not spread by biting insects such as mosquitoes or bedbugs.

PREVENTION

Because no vaccine for HIV is available, the only way to prevent infection by the virus is to avoid behaviors that put a person at risk of infection, such as sharing needles and having unprotected sex.

Many people infected with HIV have no symptoms. Therefore, there is no way of knowing with certainty whether a sexual partner is infected unless he or she has repeatedly tested negative for the virus and has not engaged in any risky behavior.
People should either abstain from having sex or use male latex condoms or female polyurethane condoms, which may offer partial protection, during oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Only water-based lubricants should be used with male latex condoms.
Although some laboratory evidence shows that spermicides can kill HIV, researchers have not found that these products can prevent a person from getting HIV.
The risk of HIV transmission from a pregnant woman to her baby is significantly reduced if she takes AZT during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, and if her baby takes it for the first six weeks of life.

HOW TO GET TESTED

Free confidential testing will be offered at The Passaic Alliance office beginning in April in collaboration with St Joseph’s Hospital. We will be offering the Orasure Test. This is an oral, non-invasive accurate test. Testing is also offered at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson.

More information is available at our office at 209 Madison Street, or by calling   973-365-5740, or by e-mail at info@passaicalliance.org. All inquires will be kept confidential. Additional information can be found at the following web sites.

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/bscience.htm  Center for Disease Control & Prevention

http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/ National Institude of Health

http://www.state.nj.us/health/aids/aidsprv.htm  New Jersey Dept. of Health

http://www.aegis.com/  Aids Education - Global Information System

http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/  HIV Insite (Up-to-Date AIDS Information)