Nope, you're not in trouble, this disease does [color:"yellow"]NOT[/color] go over to other races, it's race specific.
Symptoms are the same as for the human virus, it's a lymphosome retro-virus affecting the immune system. Cats die of cancer, certain teeth diseases, are weak and always ill. Infected kittens die very quickly. This disease is treacherous, cause the virus can park in the bones, the blood test seems to show a healthy cat. Then it gets virulent again after a time, even after years. No healing possible, but you can vaccinate the cat if it's healthy, this gives protection if faithfully repeated each year. Treatment can only reach the secondary illness, not the virus itself.
FAIDS/FeLV/FIV are related.
Kiya
My vet book says the USA has 1-12% infected cats, but I guess, the value is higher now. France (22.1%) and Great Britain (12.8%) are far worse. It's known since 1987. so don't worry, Jolie. Human HIV/AIDS hysteria is no longer an issue AFAIK, it's just another immune defect and really race specific.
And if you're still concerned: My Pucki was first positive, then negative as a kitten, was 13 yrs old and then the sarkom (cancer) came. I'm still negative <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
Though theories say, FeLV can affect dogs, too. That's what my vet told me, don't know if this theory exists anymore.
