According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that attacks the immune system, causing a chronic and progressive disease that makes people vulnerable to opportunistic infections and cancers. (Canada 2008) Essentially over time, when the body can no longer fight the virus, it progresses to a disease known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. HIV transmission occurs when contaminated body fluids from one person enter another individual. Unprotected sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, or oral), needle sharing, use of unsterilized body modification equipment, mother-to-child transmission, and occupational exposure in healthcare are all ways in which HIV can spread. HIV/AIDS as a disease is relatively new. The first reported case of AIDS in the world occurred in 1981 and a year later in Canada. Scientists around the world are busy searching for a cure or vaccine to cure millions of people dying of HIV/AIDS internationally. The stigma and discrimination that go hand in hand with a positive HIV/AIDS diagnosis are overwhelming. FreeDictonary.com defines discrimination as “treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit; partiality or prejudice". In essence, discrimination refers to actions and stigma refers to beliefs and attitudes. Both, however, are based on negative opinions about a person just because they are part of a specific group. Around the world, there are well-documented cases of people living with HIV being denied the rights to healthcare, work, education and freedom of movement, among others. (UNAIDS 2005) This stigma and discrimination exists globally, even if it appears differently...... middle of document ......w.ca/publications/interfaces/downloadFile.php?ref=41 (visited 2012 1- April).WARNING. Prevent HIV and AIDS. http://www.avert.org/hiv-aids-stigma.htm (accessed 17 March 2012). Blumer, Herbert. Symbolic interactionism: perspective and method. Berkeley. Englewood: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1986.Canada, Public Health Agency. 2008 January 12th. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/info/index-eng.php (last accessed 8 March 2012). Nwanna, Chinwe R. SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF HIV/AIDS: STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE IN NIGERIA. Lagos Nigeria: International Population Conference, 2005.UNAIDS. “Declaration of commitment against HIV/AIDS”. New York, 2002, 9.UNAIDS. HIV-related stigma, discrimination, and human rights violations: Case studies of successful programs. UNAIDS Best Practices Collection, WHO Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data, 2005, 4-5.