Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (AIDS)

"In 2008, 184 people in New Zealand were diagnosed with HIV through antibody tests:

The most diagnoses in a year. 91 of them were men, and through contact with other men (male-to-male contact

), 61 (39 males and 22 females were infected through heterosexual sexual contact), 2 were through drug injection, 2 were through blood transfusion, (overseas), 4 children were transmitted through mothers, (3 children were infected overseas and One was infected in New Zealand), three people were another way of transmission, and the cause of the other 21 people was unknown or not reported.

New Zealand AIDS Newsletter Issue 63, March 2009

What is HIV?

HIV is a virus that attacks important cells of the human immune system. Normally, your immune system can help you fight some infections and cancers. If your immune system starts to decline, you can easily get life-threatening infections. When a person has HIV and one or more infections, or cancer, they have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

How do I know if I have HIV?

The only way is to confirm whether a person has HIV through a blood test. It may take 3 to 4 months of follow-up testing before HIV becomes positive.

How did you get this disease?

Ways of transmission of AIDS

Passing unsafe sex with people with HIV (without using condoms). The virus is present in the blood, semen, or vaginal secretions of an infected person, and can enter your body through tiny wounds or ulcers on your skin or vagina, penis, rectum, and oral mucosa.
By sharing needles and syringes with HIV-infected people or sharing drug use equipment.

People who are HIV-positive may stay healthy for many years. As long as they take antibacterial drugs, they will no longer transmit the virus to others.

In New Zealand, blood used for blood transfusion is screened for HIV and other blood-borne diseases, so blood transfusion is not a route of transmission. If you want to see if you have an infection, you can perform a PrEP test.

For more information, please check: https://www.nzaf.org.nz/awareness-and-

prevention/prevention/pre-exposure-prophylaxis-prep/

Can HIV be treated?

AIDS is under control of drug treatment.

Diagnosis and treatment

Because of the further research and development of drugs, U=U drug treatment programs have now come out. After the treatment is taken, there will be no test showing that it will not be contagious. Antiretroviral treatment can allow people with AIDS for at least 6 months without a test showing that they will not be infected. This means that mothers will not infect their unborn children, and sexual partners will not infect each other. For further information, please refer to: https://www.nzaf.org.nz/awareness-and-prevention/prevention /undetectable-viral-load-uu/

The diagnosis is made by a blood test showing whether the infected person has antibodies to HIV. The results may take up to 8 days. The New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) has a new and fastest way to test for HIV, called the rapid test method (free, anonymous, simple test). The method is in an hour’s pre-

During the appointment, the nurse or doctor punctured the finger with a needle and took blood for testing. This new test produces results in 20 minutes.

After HIV enters the human body, it takes up to 3 months to produce antibodies, which will be shown in the test. This is the so-called window period. During the window period, HIV testing may not detect infection. If you do the test during the window period, further inspection and testing may be required.

Although HIV is a serious infection and there is no treatment for this virus, many people living with HIV and AIDS have a relatively long life span. Today, we are living a healthy life, thanks to new and effective treatments. The doctor can prescribe a combination of antiretroviral therapy.

What should my sex partner do?

If you are HIV positive and have had unsafe sex with your sexual partner, your sexual partner should be tested for HIV antibodies. It is important to remember that people infected with HIV carry the virus for life, and the virus can be transmitted to other people if safe sex is not performed.

How can I protect myself and my customers from HIV?

Precaution

The oral protective film creates a barrier to sexual intercourse between the oral cavity and the vagina.
Always use condoms during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV)

“184 people were diagnosed with HIV through antibody testing in New Zealand during 2008: the highest number ever diagnosed in one year. 91 were men infected through sex with other men (MSM), 61 (39 men and 22 women) through heterosexual contact, 2 through injecting drug use, 2 through a transfusion (overseas), 4 were children infected through mother-to-child transmission (3 overseas and 1 in New Zealand), 3 people had another means of infection, and for 21 people the means of infection was unknown or unreported."

AIDS New Zealand newsletter, Issue 63, March 2009

WHAT IS HIV?

HIV is a virus that attacks vital cells of the body's immune system. Normally, your immune system helps you fight off certain infections and cancers. If your immune system begins to fail, you can become vulnerable to life-threatening opportunistic infections. When a person has HIV and one or more of these infections or cancers, they are said to have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE HIV?

The only way to find out if a person has HIV is through a blood test. It may take up to three to four months following exposure to HIV before a test becomes positive.

HOW IS IT CAUGHT?

HIV can be passed on:

By having unprotected sex (sex without a condom) with someone who has HIV. The virus can be in an infected person's blood, semen or vaginal secretions and can enter your body through tiny cuts or sores in your skin or in the lining of your vagina , penis, rectum, or mouth.
By sharing a needle and syringe or sharing drug equipment with someone who has HIV.

Because of advances in drug therapy there is now – U=U, which stands for Undetectable =

Untransmittable, and means if Antiretroviral therapy is taken people by people living with HIV,

and maintain an undetectable viral load for at least six months, they cannot transmit HIV.

Mother's cannot transmit HIV to their unborn child, partners cannot transmit through sex. For

more information see: https://www.nzaf.org.nz/awareness-and-

prevention/prevention/undetectable-viral-load-uu/

People who are HIV positive may remain healthy for many years If they

take antiretroviral drug therapy they cannot transmit HIV.

In New Zealand, If you are concerned that you may have been exposed to HIV you can take Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

For more information see: https://www.nzaf.org.nz/awareness-and-

prevention/prevention/pre-exposure-prophylaxis-prep/

CAN HIV BE TREATED?

HIV can be managed through drug therapy.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis is made by a blood test that shows if a person has antibodies to HIV. Results can take up to 8 days. The NZAF has a new, rapid test for HIV called FASTEST (Free, Anonymous, Simple Test). This involves a finger -prick blood test by a nurse or doctor during a one hour appointment. This new test gives a result within 20 minutes.

It can take up to three months after HIV has entered the body before antibodies will show up in a test. This is called the window period. During the window period, the HIV test may not be able to detect infection. If you have a test during the window period you may need a further test.

Although HIV is a serious infection and there is no cure for this virus many people with HIV and AIDS are living longer, healthier lives today, thanks to new and effective treatments. A doctor can prescribe a combination regimen of antiretroviral medications.

WHAT ABOUT MY PARTNER?

Your partner should ask for an HIV test if you are HIV positive and have had unprotected sex with your partner. It is important to remember that a person infected with HIV carries the virus for life and can infect others if safer sex is not practiced

HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF AND MY CLIENT FROM HIV?

Prevention is by use of:

Dental dams to create a barrier between the mouth and vagina during sex
Always use condoms during vaginal, anal or oral sex.

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I work with HIV?

You can work but you need to protect yourself from other sexually transmitted diseases so continue to use condoms.

Do I need to tell my boss?

Your boss only needs to know that you are sick and need time off from work. If you need a doctor's note instruct the doctor to not include the diagnosis and to specify the number of days you need off from work.

Do I have to stop working?

HIV never goes away and you can potentially infect others if you have unprotected sex. So long as you use protection during sex:

You do not have to disclose your HIV status.
No law can prevent you from working in the sex industry.

Should I tell my clients?

Since you will always use protection when having sex you shouldn't need to tell the client your current sexual health status. However, if a condom breaks during sex you should advise the client to get a sexual health check-up.

Should I tell other people I work with?

You should keep some things in your life private and an STI should be one of them. Some people are relaxed about disclosing that they have an STI to workmates. However, this information can be spread around and move beyond your control.

MORE INFORMATION?

Contact NZPC, your local Sexual Health Clinic or Family Planning Association.