MINISTRY OF HEALTH - Frequently Asked Questions

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1. What is the name of AIDS in Greek?
2. What causes AIDS – a microbe or a virus?
3. Which is the mode of action of HIV in the human body?
4. How easily is HIV destroyed?
5. Which body fluids contain the AIDS virus?
6. Which are the modes of transmission of AIDS?

1. What is the name of AIDS in Greek?

Σύνδρομο Επίκτητης Ανοσοποιητικής Ανεπάρκειας.

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2. What causes AIDS – a microbe or a virus?

AIDS is caused by a virus, the Human Immune Deficiency Virus or HIV, that belongs to the retroviruses group, is spherical in shape and contains RNA.

3. Which is the mode of action of HIV in the human body?

HIV has the ability to attack the T-lymphocytes which are part of our defense against microorganisms. When the T-lymphocytes are affected by the virus, their ability to produce antibodies is impaired, so that the human body can no longer fight infections effectively.

4. How easily is HIV destroyed?

While HIV is very toxic in the human body, it is easily destroyed in the environment. The virulence of the virus decreases by 90-95% within a few hours of exposure outside the body and it varies accordingly to the concentration of the virus. In very high concentrations it may last up to 1-3 days. It is destroyed instantly by chlorine solution and by alcohol.

5. Which body fluids contain the AIDS virus?

The AIDS virus has been traced in almost all body fluids. Fluids containing the virus in a concentration which is high enough to cause the infection are blood, sperm, vaginal and cervical fluids and maternal milk.

6. Which are the modes of transmission of AIDS?

AIDS is transmitted through the following: 1. Sexual intercourse 2. Trasnfusion with infected blood 3. Contact with infected blood (common use of needle or syringe, accidental puncture with a used needle) 4. Transmission from mother to child during pregnancy or breastfeeding.