HIV and AIDS Stages

Acute HIV Infection, Stage 1

Within two to four weeks of an individual contracting the HIV virus, acute HIV infection usually develops. Since this is the body’s normal reaction to the infection, it usually comes with flu-like symptoms that might linger for a few weeks.

Individuals in Stage 1 are highly contagious and have high blood levels of the HIV virus. People in Stage 1 may not feel ill at all or may not even be aware that they have the illness, which exacerbates matters.