A. The twin battle cries in the war against AIDS are safe sex and education. I'm pleased you're looking for education. You can reduce your risk of contracting AIDS by taking sensible precautions and learning more about the disease.

AIDS is caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). An infected person can carry and pass on HIV for many years before showing the symptoms of the clinical disease called AIDS.

AIDS is a contagious disease, but it cannot be spread through casual social contact. There are four ways AIDS can spread from one person to another: through vaginal, anal or oral sex; through sharing used needles to inject drugs; from an infected woman to her baby during pregnancy or delivery; and through transfusion of infected blood or blood components.