June 27 is National HIV Testing Day

June 27 is National HIV Testing Day throughout the United States. The National Center for HIV / AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, TB Prevention are urging anyone who has yet to be tested for HIV, to go out on June 27th and get tested.

According to the CDC more than 1 million Americans are now estimated to be living with HIV, one quarter of which do not even know they are infected with the disease. CDC also states that the majority of the sexually transmitted HIV infections are transmitted by people who are unaware that they are infected.

The purpose of National HIV Testing Day is to have people aware that they do have the opportunity to get tested when they visit a doctor, emergency room or any other health care provider. If you are having difficulties finding a provider that will test you for HIV, go to http://www.hivtest.org/. All you need to do is put your zip code in and a list of health care providers that offer the HIV testing will come up.

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. HIV is the virus that leads AIDS. The difference between HIV and other viruses is that it attacks the immune system. HIV finds and destroys T cells or CD4 cells that the immune system must rely on to fight disease. Scientists say that the origin or HIV came from a certain type of chimpanzee in West Africa. Scientists also concluded that the virus more than likely infected humans after the chimpanzee's were hunted and eaten for food.