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Many 'Still Ignorant About HIV'
There is still widespread ignorance
about HIV, particularly among young people, research has suggested.
A survey by the HIV charity Terrence Higgins
Trust found more than 20% of people aged 18 to 24 mistakenly thought
there was a cure for HIV.
Among the same age group almost a quarter believed
condoms have holes in them which let HIV through.
And more than one in ten young people thought
the virus could be passed through kissing.
This is only a theoretical risk, and possible
only if both parties have open sores, cuts or bleeding gums which
bleed into each other. There has only been one suspected case
of HIV being passed on in this way.
The poll of 1,000 adults was carried out to mark
25 years since the death of Terry Higgins, whose battle with Aids
inspired friends and colleagues to set up the charity.
The results showed that ignorance about the virus
were not confined to the younger age group.
Across all age groups, 28% of people either thought
that condoms had holes in which let HIV through, or said they
did not know.
Twelve percent thought that sharing cutlery carried
a risk of HIV transmission, and 10% thought you can be infected
through sweat.
Only one in three people who were surveyed said
they thought they had received good sex education at school.
Much confusion
Nick Partridge, chief executive of Terrence Higgins
Trust, said: "It's frightening that 25 years after Terry Higgins'
death, this level of confusion exists.
"The lack of good sex education means many young
people are leaving school ignorant about HIV and safer sex.
HIV is now one of the fastest growing serious
health conditions and there is no cure. It's time to get our facts
straight.
Terry Higgins was among the first people to die
from an Aids-related illness in the UK.
More people than ever before
were newly diagnosed with HIV in 2006.
There is growing concern that the pharmaceutical
drugs used to treat HIV will become increasingly ineffective,
as the virus can change its structure with astonishing speed and
evolves ways to combat their action.
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