Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). What is it? What causes it and why? Can I get it? How can I prevent myself from getting it? All of these questions can be answered. The main problem besides having AIDS, is not being educated enough to know how and why people are dying all over the world. Aids is caused by a virus called the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. A virus is one of the smallest “germs” that cause diseases. If you have unprotected sex or share needles or syringes with an infected person, you may become infected with HIV. Specific blood tests can show evidence or HIV infection. You can be infected with HIV and have no symptoms at