In 2004, 640,000 children under 15 were newly infected with HIV, bringing the total number of children living with HIV to 2.2 million. About half of all new adult HIV infections occur among 15-24 year olds. Learn more about USAID's efforts to prevent HIV in children and young people:

Most of the parents of the children at BaanGerda were infected with HIV. The disease was passed to them through pregnancy, and when they were born they were already HIV positive. The parents subsequently died from an AIDS related illness. Between 20-30% of babies born to HIV positive mothers who have no prenatal care and no antiviral therapy will be born HIV positive.

Children and adolescents have the right to know how to avoid HIV infection before they become sexually active. As some young people will have sex at an early age, they should know about condoms and where they are available. Parents and schools share the responsibility of ensuring that children understand how to avoid HIV infection, and learn the importance of tolerant, compassionate and non-discriminatory attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS.

Most people experience NO symptoms at all from their initial infection. Some people may come down with very common flu-like symptoms, but they are virtually indistinguishable from a regular flu. It takes an average of 5 to 10 years after infection for most people to develop symptoms. People with HIV who use drugs and/or alcohol or are otherwise unhealthy (poor nutrition, stress, lack of sleep) may accelerate the disease process.

estimated 33% of the 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide are co-infected with TB. Furthermore, without proper treatment, approximately 90% of people living with HIV/AIDS die within months of contracting TB. The majority of people who are co-infected with both diseases live in sub-Saharan Africa.

Globally the number of people living with the virus reached 38.6 million in 2005. An estimated 4.1 million people acquired the HIV in 2004 ? 200 000 were children, of whom more than 90% were infected through mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). Almost 90% of these new child infections occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. According to UNAIDS, 2.8 million people died of AIDS in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to about 64% of all people living with HIV and accounts for almost 71% of deaths globally.

The main route of human infection is direct contact with infected poultry or surfaces and objects contaminated with their feces or blood. To date, most human cases have occurred in rural and periurban areas where households keep small poultry flocks that roam freely, often entering homes and sharing children's outdoor play areas. Large quantities of the virus are excreted in the feces of infected poultry.

Look into joining an HIV+ support group for young people in your area by going to our database. Also, you can join an online List serv for HIV+ young people at Youth Guardian Services. Remember that you aren't alone. If you'd like to talk to someone or find support, please see our resources.

Globally, 45 percent of adults living with HIV/AIDS are women. By region, this percentage varies considerably, from 57% in Sub-Saharan Africa, to 28% in East Asia and the Pacific. In 2004, 17.6 million women were living with HIV/AIDS worldwide.

Infection with HIV in this way is rare. There have only been a couple of documented cases of HIV transmission resulting from biting. In these particular cases, severe tissue tearing and damage were reported in addition to the presence of blood. REF: HOW AIDS CAN BE TRANSMITTED

A blood test can determine whether or not a person is infected with HIV. The most commonly used test detects antibodies (disease-fighting proteins) against HIV. It may take as long as three to six months for HIV antibodies to reach levels that are measurable in standard blood tests.

The only way to tell you have HIV is be tested for the virus. You cannot rely on symptoms to tell if you or someone you know is infected. The symptoms of HIV are similar to many other illnesses and many people have no symptoms at all. The symptoms of AIDS are also similar to other diseases. If a person is infected with HIV, the only way to tell if they have progressed to AIDS is to be diagnosed by a doctor using the CDC defined criteria.

Most children infected with HIV got the virus from their infected mothers, before or during birth. It is also possible for her to pass the virus to her infant through breast milk. A mother infected with the virus can transmit it to her baby even if she does not have any HIV or AIDS-related symptoms. Studies indicate that approximately 15-25 percent, or 1 out of 4 babies born to mothers infected with HIV will become infected, if no treatment is given.

Research suggests the risk of HIV infection in this way is extremely low. A very small number of people -usually in a healthcare setting- have become infected with HIV as a result of blood splashes in the eye. REF: TRANSMISSION OF AIDS AMONG HEALTH WORKERS

You can have a free HIV test at one of our Public Health Clinics in Chico or Oroville, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The test is quick, painless. Call for more information at (530) 538-6220 / 1-877-783-4636.

Only with a blood test. A person can be HIV infected for many years while looking and feeling healthy, with no signs at all of being sick.

No. From the start of the HIV epidemic there has been concern about HIV transmission of the virus by biting and bloodsucking insects, such as mosquitoes. However, studies have shown no evidence of HIV transmission through mosquitoes or any other insects—even in areas where there are many cases of AIDS and large populations of mosquitoes. Lack of such outbreaks, despite intense efforts to detect them, supports the conclusion that HIV is not transmitted by insects.

The surest way is to abstain from unprotected sexual behaviors and totally avoid sharing needles of any kind. When engaging in sexual behaviors always practice safer sex to reduce the risk of exchanging blood semen or vaginal fluids with your sex partner. Never use petroleum based lubricants since they can cause latex condoms or dental dams to deteriorate and tear. You should never share needles works cookers cotton water or any other paraphernalia used to inject drugs.

Studies of families of HIV-infected people have found that HIV is not spread through sharing utensils, towels, bedding, or toilet facilities. Behaviors that increase the likelihood of contact with blood from an HIV-infected person, such as sharing a razor or toothbrush, should be avoided.