Show Educating the world about AIDS is important Diana Young Contributing Writer DONT DON'T forget we are human This is one of the most difficult periods in our lives Education and knowledge is is- the key to prevention Education is the most important important important tant part of quelling the fear were some the comments made by a group of AIDS patients who visited in Oct The panel who work with the Utah Ufah AIDS Foundation spoke poke openly of how it felt tobe to tobe tobe be a victim of AIDS They dealt with subjects such as the feelings of anger and isolation isolation isolation isola isola- tion rejection by society and coping with death Tough optimistic each AIDS victim knows that he or she is living on borrowed Inan In Inan Inan an effort to make the most of each day the visiting panel agreed that the best way to spend their remaining time was to go out and educate the public AIDS was first reported in inthe inthe inthe the US U.S. in 1981 Since then the epidemic has spread globally with an estimated 1520 1520 15 IS- 20 million people carrying the HIV virus An example of how rapidly AIDS can spread there were only 2 reported cases of AIDS in Utah in 1983 Today that number has increased to with an estimated people along the Was Wasatch front who carry the virus HIV which causes cause AIDS works by breaking down the immune system Therefore re illnesses and germs which would not be a threat to a person person person per per- son whose immune system is functioning normally can be deadly to an AIDS victim The virus C can n only be detected after about 90 days but it can lie dormant in the body anywhere anywhere any anywhere where from six months to 12 years The symptoms of AIDS are fatigue fever night sweats swollen glands and diarrhea AIDS is contracted primarily ly through sexual contact and needle Less commonly common common- ly it is spread through blood transfusions However due to screening blood donors transfusions transfusions transfusions trans trans- fusions are now low risk It cannot be spread through casual contact or kissing unless unless unless un un- less blood or saliva come into contact with an open wound in the flesh A Abstinence b s tin e n ceo or r t total 0 t a I monogamy in a relationship a ar at the best ways to prevent AIDS However those choosing choosing choos choos- choosing ing not to abstain or be in a monogamous relationship should practice safe sex For more information on AIDS contact the Utah AIDS Foundation There are also many books available on the subject in o our our r local libraries 1 I J |