Research indicates that HIV is NOT transmitted by casual contact, such as touching or hugging; sharing household items such as utensils, towels, and bedding; contact with sweat or tears; sharing facilities such as swimming pools, saunas, hot tubs, or toilets with HIV-infected people; and coughs or sneezes. HIV transmission requires intimate contact with infected blood or body fluids (vaginal secretions, semen, pre-ejaculation fluid, and breast milk).

No. Casual contact, even over a long period of time, is not regarded as dangerous. This includes all typical sports and activities.

of 2003, approximately 15 million children have lost one or both parents due to HIV/AIDS. By 2010, this number is expected to increase to 25 million. Learn more about USAID's efforts to improve the lives of children affected by HIV/AIDS.

A diagnosis of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is made by a physician. An HIV-infected person may be diagnosed with AIDS if he or she meets certain clinical criteria. Criteria include becoming sick with an illness defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as an AIDS-indicator illness (illnesses that take advantage of the body's weakened immune system) and/or by taking a blood test that shows that the person's immune system is severely damaged.

Of the 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, nearly 2.7 million are children under the age of 15, and 11.8 million are young people aged 15-24. An estimated 3 million people die from AIDS-related causes every year.

athon: Luci, you only further embarrass yourself by trying to support his antics.Nicely understated. :) Can you think of anyone else who'd want to use it? Oh, wait, does that mean we have to get permission first? Ah, never mind. Covered under Fair Use. So you admit that even those at the peak of their career or ability can 'cheat', regardless of "power" be it athletic, artistic or mental. The overall evidence in favour of Uri Geller's 'psi' powers being genuine is overwhelming.

Children and juniors are welcome to come to the event. The one requirement is that at all times they must stay in the care of a responsible adult ticket holder. We will not allow juniors to either enter or leave the festival unless they are in the care of a responsible adult. Please note that a responsible adult is not an older brother or sister. It has to be a parent or guardian.

There are no common symptoms for individuals diagnosed with AIDS. When immune system damage is more severe, people may experience opportunistic infections (called "opportunistic" because they are caused by organisms which cannot induce disease in people with normal immune systems, but take the "opportunity" to flourish in people with HIV). Most of these more severe infections, diseases and symptoms fall under the Centers for Disease Control's definition of full-blown "AIDS.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency ["im-you-no-de-fish-en-see"] Virus -- is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). HIV attacks and kills the cells in our bodies that keep us from getting diseases. This makes people with HIV get illnesses that healthy people do not get. When a person with HIV gets very sick from pneumonia, some kinds of cancer, and other life-threatening diseases, they are said to have AIDS. AIDS is a fatal disease. Here is more information on HIV/AIDS.

NO. You cannot get AIDS or any other disease by giving blood. The materials, including the needle used for your donation, are new, sterile, disposable and used only once, for your blood donation and are then discarded.

Centers cannot exclude a child solely because he has HIV or AIDS. According to the vast weight of scientific authority, HIV/AIDS cannot be easily transmitted during the types of incidental contact that take place in child care centers. Children with HIV or AIDS generally can be safely integrated into all activities of a child care program.

Total Ministry is not about "have to." We will each participate as the Spirit guides us in our own way in our own time. There are things that need to be done and the Church and the Spirit call people to do God's work. Being open to the call of the Spirit in prayer is a good start. Many people find Total Ministry frees them from feeling they have to do jobs they don't want and have been doing 'because it needs to be done and no one else would do it.