Today is December 1, 2009 and December 1 refers to World AIDS Day. AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. AIDS was first recognized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on June 5, 1981. AIDS is caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV is a virus that attacks the body's immune system. We have a misconception that, we treat HIV and AIDS as same-thing but in reality HIV and AIDS are different. When someone is described as living with HIV, they have the HIV virus in their body. A person is considered to have developed AIDS when the immune system is so weak it can no longer fight off a range of diseases with which it would normally cope. "Universal Access and Human Rights" HIV can be passed on through infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids or breast milk. The most common ways HIV is passed on are: Sex without a condom with someone living with HIV Sharing infected needles, syringes or other injecting drug equipment From an HIV-positive mother (t...