1.   Having sex with an infected person or sharing drug needles spreads the disease.

2.   Like the AIDS virus, hepatitis C often is transmitted through sexual contact, bodily fluids and sharing of intravenous drug needles.

3.   The virus is primarily spread by having unprotected sex with an infected partner or by sharing intravenous drug needles with someone infected with the virus.

4.   You can get AIDS from sexual intercourse with an infected partner, from sharing drug needles with an infected person or from being born to an infected mother.

5.   Most HIV cases in the region are attributed to heterosexual transmission and shared drug needles.