December 1st • World AIDS Day

Posted on 12/01/2024

World AIDS Day, designated on 1 December every year since 1988, is an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who have died of the disease.

HIV testing is important because it is estimated that 40% of new diagnoses of HIV are transmitted by people who are not aware of their HIV status. Knowing your HIV status can help keep you—and others—safe. Also, early and sustained HIV treatment will help you live a long and healthy life.

Nearby testing and treatment medical offices

AHF - https://www.hivcare.org/locations/

NEVHC - https://nevhc.org/ (818) 988-6335

LA County Services Site 211 - https://211la.org/. For all LA County Services including Medical, you can dial 211 from any phone.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the most advanced stage of HIV infection:

Symptoms: People with AIDS have damaged immune systems and can get more serious illnesses. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.
Diagnosis: A person is diagnosed with AIDS when their CD4 cell count drops below 200 cells per milliliter of blood, or they develop certain illnesses.
Treatment: There is no cure for AIDS, but medications can slow the disease's progress.
Survival: Without HIV treatment, people with AIDS typically survive about three years.
Transmission: People with AIDS can easily transmit HIV to others.

Prevention: HIV can be prevented and treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Risk factors: Risk factors for HIV include:

Having unprotected anal or vaginal sex
Having multiple partners
Using drugs and sharing needles or syringes
Having a sexual partner with HIV who is not taking HIV medicines
Having a sexually-transmitted disease (STD)

You can learn more about HIV/AIDS from these sources: