Dispel some popular myths about HIV transmission among athletes, in the workplace, at a health clinic, and in the wild

Answer 1

HIV cannot be transmitted through perspiration. Sporting activities with no physical contact pose no risk to uninfected individuals unless they both have open wounds through which blood from an infected person can come in direct contact with the open wound of the uninfected person. The skin is an excellent line of defense against HIV. Blood from an infected person cannot penetrate the skin except through an opening in the skin. As an extra precaution, a person should use vinyl or latex gloves when performing work that requires direct contact with someone else's blood or open wound.

HIV is not transmitted through casual contact. HIV cannot be caught by spending time with, shaking hands with, or hugging an infected person; from a toilet seat, dishes, or silverware used by an HIV patient; or by sharing a drink, food, a towel, or clothes with a person who has HIV.

Some people fear getting HIV from health care professionals. The chances of getting infected during physical or medical procedures are rare. Health care workers take extra care to protect themselves and their patients from HIV.

Another myth is that you can get HIV from insects or animals. The H in HIV stands for "human.". Though there are some types of immunodeficiency viruses that specifically affect animals, these viruses are not generally considered a risk to humans, and studies have shown that contracting HIV through insect bites is virtually impossible.