Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/576901
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 2015 News 17 ral period when MSM were not al- lowed to donate blood, to cover the so-called window period? Grech says that the important thing was an understanding that the defer- ral should be based on risky sexual behaviour, rather than sexual pref- erence. "At a time when maintaining blood supplies is a continuous challenge and headache, it is wrong and incorrect to permanently ex- clude a section of altruistic civic minded individuals, who wish to join their fellow citizens in safely contributing to their community." mborg@mediatoday.com.mt Common pathogens and their effect on the body HIV: HIV is a virus that affects the body's immune system. Over time, and without effective treatment, it weakens the immune system, leaving the affected person open to other infections. A person living with HIV is said to have AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) if their immune system becomes weakened by HIV to a severe extent where it causes a number of specific illnesses, for example Kaposi sarcoma or recurrent pneumonia. SYPHILIS: Syphilis is a bacterial infection and it is estimated to increase the likelihood of HIV by three to five times. This is because the genital sores caused by syphilis can bleed easily, making it easier for the HIV virus to enter the blood during sexual activity. The signs and symptoms of syphilis vary depending on which of the four stages it presents (primary, secondary, latent and tertiary). HEPATITIS B: Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) which affects the liver. It can cause both acute (self-limiting) and chronic (long-standing) infections. Many people have no symptoms during the initial infection. Some develop a rapid onset of sickness with vomiting, yellow skin, feeling tired, dark urine and abdominal pain. Transmission of HBV results from exposure to infectious blood or body fluids containing blood. It is 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV. HEPATITIS C: Hepatitis C is an infectious disease affecting primarily the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years. In some cases, those with cirrhosis will go on to develop liver failure, liver cancer, or life-threatening oesophageal and gastric varices. 'At a time when maintaining blood supplies is a continuous challenge and headache, it is wrong to permanently exclude a section of altruistic civic minded individuals'