349 people were diagnosed with HIV in Scotland last year, almost one per day. HIV attacks the immune system, weakening it over time and leading to AIDS. The two main ways to contract HIV are through unprotected sex or sharing drug injection equipment. While there is no cure for HIV, effective treatments now allow those who have it to live near-normal lifespans.

2. HIV =
A VIRUS THAT ATTACKS THE
IMMUNE SYSTEM – THE BODY’S
DEFENCE AGAINST DISEASE.

3. AIDS =
WHEN A PERSON’S IMMUNE
SYSTEM IS SO DAMAGED BY HIV,
IT CAN’T FIGHT OFF DISEASES IT
NORMALLY WOULD.

4. 349
PEOPLE WERE DIAGNOSED
WITH HIV LAST YEAR IN
SCOTLAND.
THAT’S ALMOST ONE EACH DAY.

5. 24% of people
in the UK who have
HIV don’t know it.
Getting tested is the only way to be sure.

6. THE 2 MAIN WAYS YOU CAN CATCH HIV:
• SEX WITHOUT A CONDOM
• SHARING DRUG-INJECTING KIT

7. YOU CAN’T CATCH HIV FROM A KISS.
•OR A CUP.
•OR A HANDSHAKE.
•OR EVEN A TOILET SEAT.

8. HIV DOESN’T JUST AFFECT GAY MEN.
41% of new HIV cases
in Scotland last year
were passed by
sex between
men and women.

9. THERE’S NO CURE FOR HIV.
BUT THERE ARE EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS THAT
MEAN PEOPLE WITH HIV CAN HAVE A NEAR
NORMAL LIFE SPAN.

10. HOW MUCH DO REALLY KNOW ABOUT HIV?
Try the #HIVbasics quiz
www.hivscotland.com/quiz