Month: December 2002

Since writing my original entry about World AIDS day (also known as ‘AIDS awareness day’) this morning, quite a number of other bloggers have blogged about it (as per the aim of Link And Think) and I’ve had a couple of search queries arrive at the site (only because I’ve been doing some work on the server backend) so for all those people – here’s even more information about “Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome” and “Human Immunodeficiency Virus” – including a list of famous people that have already died from AIDS/HIV related illnesses.

Originally published at 02:16am
Updated at 07.50am, 14.22pm
Continued as World Aids Day – Part II

Neil’s post reminded me that it was “World AIDS Day” today (AIDS is an acronym for “Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome”). (I did originally read about it via WannaBeGirl‘s site)

Like Neil, I believe I am HIV negative (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) negative – i.e. I am not carrying the virus that leads to AIDS (if I was, I would be HIV Positive: that is the HIV virus had been detected in my bloodstream).

Neil did comment “The fact that there is no real cure, the fact that you know you will die a slow, painful and premature death should the disease take hold” does ring a bell for me, as a relative of mine does have Myasthenia Gravis (which, like HIV+/AIDS, is where the body’s immune system develops a fault – but luckily MG isn’t transferable between people, except maybe through hereditary reasons).

Oh, and whilst on the “tangent of the subject” – did you know, that like Alzheimer’s Disease, no one has yet directly died of AIDS. But, rather, AIDS related illnesses. All three conditions mentioned (AIDS, MG, AD) weaken the body in such as way that even a common cold can develop into pneumonia and kill a sufferer.

Other bloggers, please consider joining in with the “Link And Think” campaign.

For more details, facts and statistics about AIDS (include how you can get tested and/or free contraceptives) – read on!