What is HIV?

"HIV" stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus:

• Human: means it only happens to people
  
  
• Immunodeficiency: means that something is missing, or there is not enough of it, in the immune system. The immune system helps fight sickness so you stay healthy. If your immune system is weak, your body doesn’t have the same ability to fight sickness.
  
  
• Virus: a very small germ that infects someone and can be spread from one person to another