The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has been discovered to be the cause of AIDS.
AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV is a retrovirus which contains RNA as the genetic material.
HIV infection can be transmitted through:-
sexual contact with an infected individual,
transfusion of contaminated blood samples,
sharing infected needles e.g. in the case of drug addicts who take the drug intravenously,
infected pregnant woman to the fetus through placenta.
AIDS adversely affects the immune system of an infected individual. ELISA or enzyme linked immunosorbent assay test is used largely for diagnosing AIDS.
