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AIDS is an acronym which stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Aids is caused by the transmission (typically sexual transmission, transmission through blood transfusions, and transmission via shared needles) of the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. All variants of HIV (hiv-1 and hiv-2) are retroviruses that kill CD4 cells. This impairs the ability of the immune system to fight off and prevent infection. Though an individual may test positive as a carrier of the HIV virus, that individual may not be considered to have aids until their condition has become symptomatic, or the CD4 count has dropped below 200. |
