Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Statutory notification

• HIV is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• See notifiable communicable disease case definitions (Word 1.29MB).
• Notifications should be made using the HIV/AIDS notification form (PDF 282KB).
• See also description of statutory medical notifications in Western Australia.

Public health management

Important information

• Infectious agent: AIDS is the stage of HIV infection that occurs when a patient’s immune system is badly damaged and becomes vulnerable to opportunistic infections as described in the notifiable communicable disease case definitions (Word 1.29MB).
• HIV transmission: Sexual transmission, contact of abraded skin or mucosa with body secretions such as blood, CSF or semen, use of HIV contaminated needles and syringes.
• HIV incubation period: Variable. Generally 1 to 3 months from time of infection.
• HIV infectious period: Not known precisely; begins early after onset of HIV infections and presumably extends throughout life. Infectivity during the first months is considered to be high.
• Case exclusion: Do not exclude.
• Contact exclusion: Do not exclude
• Treatment: Antiviral treatment for HIV as recommended in the Guidelines for Managing Sexually Transmitted Infections - WA

Guidelines

• Guidelines for Managing Sexually Transmitted Infections - WA
• Other WA and National policies and guidelines for HIV/AIDS
• Communicable Disease Guidelines, for teachers, child care workers, local government authorities and medical practitioners

Notifiable disease data and reports

• General infectious disease reports