HIV/AIDS
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
It’s a virus that attacks the body’s immune system — the part that helps you fight infections and stay healthy.
​If HIV is not treated, it can weaken your immune system over time.
When the immune system becomes too weak to protect you, the infection can progress to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).
Understanding HIV and AIDS
How HIV Spreads
HIV spreads through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk; pass during unprotected sex, sharing needles, or from mother to child during birth or breastfeeding. Transmission from transfusions is very rare in the U.S. You can’t get HIV from hugging, kissing, or sharing food.
What Happens in the Body
Once inside the body, HIV attacks CD4 cells that fight infection. It uses them to make copies of itself, slowly weakening your immune system. Without treatment, illness becomes easier to catch. Daily medicine keeps the virus under control and helps you stay healthy.
Living With HIV
With care, HIV can be managed for life. Medicine makes the virus undetectable and untransmittable (“U=U”). People living with HIV can work, have families, and enjoy full lives. Local clinics in Miami offer confidential care and support to help you stay strong.
