The Bug on the Wire?

April 11, 2009 6:03 AM

On the TV show the Wire, they talk about "the bug". What disease are they referring to?
posted by oteric to Media & Arts (11 answers total)

AIDS, I believe.
posted by Prospero at 6:05 AM on April 11, 2009 [1 favorite]

HIV
posted by spartacusroosevelt at 6:05 AM on April 11, 2009

I've never watched the show, but I found this with Google: "Johnny reveals to Bubbles that they say he has the Bug: AIDS."
posted by mohrr at 6:06 AM on April 11, 2009

Usually HIV, but it's also a generic reference to STIs.
posted by valkyryn at 6:39 AM on April 11, 2009

Angel dust is sherm/if you got AIDS, you got the germ

- Big L, "Ebonics"
posted by Bobby Bittman at 7:20 AM on April 11, 2009

nthing HIV
posted by Quizicalcoatl at 7:49 AM on April 11, 2009

yeah, it's hiv
posted by fancyoats at 7:58 AM on April 11, 2009

It is HIV, and you'll find an odd subculture called Bugchasing that describes men actively attempting to become infected.
posted by shinynewnick at 8:26 AM on April 11, 2009

HIV.

Unless you mean Bug, Michael's little brother. But he's not 'the Bug,' y'know?
posted by box at 8:48 AM on April 11, 2009

Response by poster: Thanks guys! I was thinking it was AIDS/HIV but wasn't sure.
posted by oteric at 11:38 AM on April 11, 2009

HIV. I think it's also mentioned like that in Glue, by Irvine Welsh (an excellent book).
posted by sully75 at 11:39 AM on April 11, 2009