A virus that weakens the immune system over time. With early testing and treatment, people living with HIV can lead long, healthy lives.
HIV is a virus that gradually weakens the immune system by targeting the very cells the body uses to fight infection. Left unmanaged over many years it can progress to AIDS, but this progression is not inevitable — with modern antiretroviral treatment, people living with HIV can expect a near-normal life expectancy and, with sustained treatment, can reach a viral load low enough that the virus becomes untransmittable to partners.
HIV spreads through specific bodily fluids — blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk — most commonly through unprotected sex or shared needles. It is not spread through casual contact, sharing meals, or everyday social interaction, a point worth being clear about given how much unnecessary stigma still surrounds the virus.
Treatment today centres on antiretroviral therapy (ART), a daily medication regimen that suppresses the virus rather than curing it, taken consistently for life. The earlier ART begins after diagnosis, the better the long-term outlook, which is the main reason routine and confidential testing is encouraged rather than waiting for symptoms to appear.
Confidential testing: Our laboratory offers private HIV testing and counselling — for yourself or as a couple.
