You can't get HIV by kissing or hugging anyone who has the virus. You can't get HIV from mosquitoes or other insects. You can't get HIV by touching things that a person with HIV has touched. You can't get HIV from a toilet seat. HIV impedes the proper functioning of the immune system, which is our body's shield against disease.
Some people develop symptoms shortly after being infected.
For others, it can take more than 10 years. Most people living with HIV don't even know they have the virus. And some people won't tell you they have it, even if they do know their HIV status. To learn more about testing procedures and locations in Bermuda, call the Bermuda Department of Health at 236-0224. The Allan Vincent Smith Foundationl encourages everyone to get tested in order find out their HIV status, since studies show that people who know their status are better able to protect themselves and others from the effects of the virus.