how is HIV transmitted?
HIV 101: Online

Additional Resources

Thanks for your participation in this educational activity. Please keep reading this page for more information and resources. Below, you will find information from the Oregon Department of Education and from the Centers for Disease Control.

Read more on our website: www.hivalliance.org

Oregon Department of Education:

• Comprehensive Sexuality Laws:  https://www.oregon.gov/ode/rules-and-policies/StateRules/Pages/HIV–AIDS-Law.aspx
• HIV/AIDS Questions and Answers: https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/healthsafety/Pages/HIV-AIDS-Questions-and-Answers.aspx
• Comprehensive Sexuality FAQ’s: https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/healthsafety/Documents/sexedfaq.pdf

Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/std/hiv/default.htm

www.HIV.gov

YouTube Videos for more information:

• Recommended for Middle School Students (3 minutes): https://youtu.be/DzXgCW9YcNg
• Recommended for High School Students and Adults (4 minutes):  https://youtu.be/FDVNdn0CvKI
• For the biology buffs! https://youtu.be/horX8xLVpCg   https://youtu.be/5g1ijpBI6Dk

HIV Basics

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) targets and infects the human white blood cell known as the CD4 or Helper T cell. These cells play a crucial role in identifying and fighting off infections. When HIV destroys these cells, the body becomes vulnerable to diseases it can no longer fight, which can ultimately lead to an AIDS diagnosis if left untreated.

One of the most important questions to answer is “How is HIV transmitted?” HIV is transmitted through specific body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breast milk. It is not spread through casual contact like shaking hands, hugging, or through the air, sweat, or saliva. Understanding how HIV is transmitted is vital for preventing its spread. Although there is no cure or vaccine for HIV yet, it can be managed with medication, allowing individuals to suppress the virus and maintain a healthy immune system. The only way to know your HIV status is through testing.

Stage 1: Acute Infection – about 2-4 weeks after exposure, can look like the flu. These are the only symptoms.

Stage 2: Clinical Latency – there are no other symptoms while the CD4 cells are dying and the number of HIV cells are increasing in the blood stream. This stage can take around 8-11 years to complete before HIV is able to develop into AIDS.

Stage 3: AIDS – having 200 (or less) of those CD4 cells per cubic-millimeter of blood AND/OR being more vulnerable to Opportunistic Infections.

Ports of Entry (places on our bodies that HIV could transmit through)

1. Direct access to blood (sharing needles/razors/tears in skin)
2. The anus
3. The vagina
4. Open cuts or wounds
5. Mucous Membrane (eyes, nose, mouth, urethra)

People Living with HIV

In our lessons, we tend to talk about celebrities that are known to have HIV. HIV does not discriminate, it can affect any person. Here are a few of their stories.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson (he/him)

A basketball legend from the LA Lakers, Magic Johnson was transmitted HIV while having unprotected sex outside of his marriage. He retired from the NBA in 1991 after announcing his HIV status publicly. Many players were fearful to play with him on the court, risking transmission. We know that HIV cannot be transmitted through sweat or from body-to-body contact; but with immense fear and mistrust of HIV in the 80s and 90s, many players would not want to take a chance playing alongside Magic Johnson. Magic returned to play on the USA Men’s Olympic Basketball Team, named “The Dream Team”, which took Gold in the 1992 Olympic Games. Publicly living with HIV, Magic helps to dispel myths and stigma that HIV is considered a “gay mans disease”; as Magic Johnson is not a gay man. Since retiring from basketball for good, Magic has become an HIV/AIDS activist and advocate for safer sex.

Ryan White (he/him)

In a tragic accident, young Ryan is known to have received HIV from a blood transfusion just after his 13th birthday in December of 1984. Before the FDA had the technology to screen blood for infections like HIV (and before we knew about HIV and the AIDS crisis) many people were donating HIV+ blood to blood banks because they did not know they had HIV. Ryan was the recipient of fear-based bullying. He was removed from school – the families of his small Indiana hometown were scared he would transmit the virus at school. Gunshots were fired at his house. He and his family fought a long legal battle in which he was eventually allowed to return to the school setting. Ryan died in 1990, one month before he would graduate high school. Later that year, US Congress and President Bush, Sr. passed the Ryan White CARE Act – offering access and assistance for those living with HIV.

Eazy-E (Eric Wright) (he/him)

Eazy-E is best known for his time in the West Coast rap group: N.W.A. He is still It is still unclear how Eazy-E contracted HIV, but he was unaware of his status until it was simply too late for him to do anything about it. His story is featured in the movie “Straigh Outta Compton” (2015). He was diagnosed with AIDS in February of 1995, and died from AIDS related complications (pneumonia) in March of 1995. In the time between his diagnosis and death, he married his partner and wrote a farewell message to his fans. Eazy-E’s story emphasized not being tested at all. He may have been able to seek medical attention and guidance if he had known his status sooner.

Amanda Blake (she/her)

An actress and a Cheetah breeder, Amanda Blake was best know for her role as Ms. Kitty for nearly two decades on the Western television series Gunsmoke. According to her doctor, Amanda had multiple health issued, including cancer. She was not known as sexually-promiscuous and it is believed she transmitted HIV from one of her husbands. She died at the age of 60 of AIDS related hepatitis – a viral infection of the liver.

Jonathan Van Ness (he/she/they)

Jonathan is possibly most well known for their role on the revived television show Queer Eye. Jonathan seems to live life with the utmost positive and infectious attitude to each person they meet. Jonathan recently publicized their HIV status in the fall of 2019. Jonathan has lived with HIV since about 2012. Jonathan’s book Over the Top describes some of what it is like to live with HIV. Jonathan is a loud and proud in many ways and talks openly about how to fight the stigma and fear that there is on people living with HIV (PLWHIV).

Greg Louganis (he/him)

Another famous athlete and Olympic gold medalist for the USA, Greg Louganis is an openly gay man living with HIV today. He was diagnosed with HIV less than a year before his time in the 1988 Seoul, South Korean, Olympics. He had a head injury during these games and bled into the pool. It was not until multiple years later that he publicly announces he had HIV. It is controversial whether or not he should have informed Olympic doctors, staff, and other Olympic Athletes that he had HIV at the time for the risk of transmission. The CDC says that chlorine in pool water will kill any HIV cells, and no other Olympians were diagnosed with HIV from that diving sports competition. While no harm or mishap came from this event, stigma and fear can keep someone from sharing their personal health diagnoses with others. Still, Louganis has since stated he acted irresponsibly in not telling others of his HIV status.

The Possibility of a Cure

Why it’s so hard to cure HIV/AIDS

How Close Are we to a Cure?

Stigma

Social stigma is known as disapproval, dismissal, or discrimination of another person based on a perceived circumstance. People living with HIV have been stigmatized and discriminated against for their HIV status. Many have lost jobs, housing or rentals, or been removed from school due to the pressing stigma and fear of infection that others may have. People today hold internal stigma or misconceptions of others in many ways. Some people may not know they hold these beliefs until their actions show it through discriminating anther person. Some of our clients have not been able to physically contact members of their own family due to this. Stigma has very real consequences and hurts many people.

We can help to reduce stigma and the negative side effects it cause by acting more mindfully regarding HIV and AIDS. Knowing the facts helps to stop the spread of misinformation as well! Check out this file by the CDC on how to fight stigma!

How Stigma complicates Care (3 min.)

Movies to Watch

• The Ryan White Story (1989)
• Philadelphia (1993)
• And the Band Played On (1993)
• United in Anger: A History of ACT UP (2012)
• Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
• The Normal Heart (2014)

Sex-Education Terminology

This may not include all terms used throughout one’s sex-ed courses, but some that may be helpful during this lesson; especially for younger audiences that may not know yet.

• Vagina – female reproductive organ/genital, internal or inside the main body.
• Penis – male reproductive organ/genital, external or outside of the main body.
• Anus – opening at the end of the human digestive track. Its where our solid waste (or poop) leaves our bodies.
• Ejaculate fluid/semen – liquid that often contains sperm. This fluid will come from a penis as a result of an orgasm during sexual activity.
• Pre-ejaculate fluid – clear fluid that works to clear the urethra in a penis before an ejaculation.
• Urethra – the tube between someone’s bladder and where they urinate from.
• Abstinence – one’s choice to NOT participate in an activity. (To be sexually abstinent is to choose not to engage in sexual activity).
• Lubricant – a substance that reduces the friction between surfaces or contact.
• Condoms – a protective barrier that one might use to reduce risk in transmitting STI’s or preventing pregnancy.
• Vaginal Sex – sexual activity where a penis may enter a vagina.
• Oral Sex – sexual activity between a mouth and genitals. Mouth-penis, mouth-vagina, mouth-anus.
• Anal Sex – sexual activity where a penis may enter an anus.