this is the virus that causes aids (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). hiv weakens a person's ability to fight infections and cancer. people with hiv are said to have aids when the virus makes them very sick and they develop certain infections or cancers. a person gets hiv when an infected person's body fluids (blood semen fluids from the vagina or breast milk) enter his or her bloodstream. the virus can enter the blood through linings in the mouth anus or sex organs (the penis and vagina) or through broken skin.
what is hiv (human immunodeficiency virus)?