HIV/AIDS Battle Plan What is HIV? What is AIDS? Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cripples the immune system and severely decreases the body’s ability to fight infection and destroy cancerous cells. Many people with HIV die from severe infection or cancer. Acquired immune deficiency (AIDS) is an umbrella term for any or all of some twenty-eight previously known diseases and symptoms. When a person has any of these diseases or infections and also tests positive for antibodies to HIV, an AIDS diagnosis is given. Causes of HIV/AIDS: Sexual intercourse with a person infected with HIV (Usual non-sexual contact does not transmit HIV, so a person with HIV/AIDS is not a risk to the general population). Intravenous drug use involving contaminated needles. Transfusions of blood or blood products from a person with AIDS (rare)