The virus that causes AIDS is called HIV. HIV is a virus that can be spread through contact with skin, saliva, or blood. About 1 in 5 people who contract AIDS will develop full-blown AIDS, which is a serious disease that requires treatment. There are three main types of AIDS: Kaposi’s sarcoma (a cancer on the skin), primary sclerosing cholangitis (a long-term illness caused by inflammation of the liver), and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).