It is natural for people to be afraid of a serious illness until they understand the facts. What is not yet known is how to cure the disease. AIDS is difficult to get. HIV is not easily spread from person to person, and it is never spread by casual contact. Semen can transmit the virus.
Vaginal fluids can also transmit the virus.
As in the case with other sexually transmitted diseases, the proper use of condoms prevents transmission. Sharing IV drug needles with an infected person. Sharing an IV drug needle with someone who has HIV can inject the virus directly into the user's bloodstream. Injection of contaminated blood products, such as in blood transfusions. This method of transmission should no longer occur because of blood-screening programs put into place in 1985.