National HIV Testing Day 2018

Today is National HIV Testing Day, aka NHTD. It is a day for people to be exposed to the idea of testing for HIV and know their status.

Those reasons are typically personal and of the 11 million US citizens who have HIV one in seven are unaware of the fact.

HIV is a viral infection spread through certain bodily fluids which attacks the immune system.

The CD4 "T Lymphocytes" are specifically targeted by the virus, progressively weakening the immune system until it is no longer effective at fighting off infections.

This creates the potential for opportunistic infections and cancers culminating in the full blown AIDS (acquired immunodeficency syndrome).

Having witnessed the effects of AIDS first hand as I have is a very humbling and sympathy inducing experience.