Transmission

How is the AIDS virus passed on?

HIV is only transmitted when blood, The thick white fluid containing sperm that a male ejaculates.semen, vaginal fluids or breast milk from an infected person enters another person's body. This is known to occur the most during unprotected sex or through unsterile injections (when needles are shared). Infected women who are pregnant can also transmit HIV to their newborns. The chances of transmission happening in this way is low, but is much more likely to occur if they are not taking any treatment. Anyone who has HIV can transmit it, whether they do or do not appear sick, or whether they are taking treatment for their infection; they can still transmit the virus.

HIV is spread mainly in these 3 ways:

• Blood transmission

If any amount of blood from an infected person gets into your blood stream, you can contract HIV. The most common way in which this is done is through the use of shared, unsterile needles and syringes. After being used, small amounts of blood can remain in the used needles, syringes and cotton wool. Blood can also remain in water used for mixing drugs. This blood can then enter the body of the next user, and they can easily contract HIV.

• Unprotected sex

In Africa, the main cause of HIV transmission is through sexual intercourse. HIV can enter the body during sex through certain membranesThin, flexible sheets of tissue connecting, covering, lining, or separating various parts of organs in animal and plant bodies. of the anus, vagina, penis or mouth, and through open cuts on the skin. Unprotected anal and vaginal sex is the riskiest sexual activities. There are a few reported cases of HIV transmission through Sexual activity that involves using the mouth and tongue to stimulate a partner's genitals.oral sex; however, the risk of contracting HIV in this way is a lot lower than for anal or vaginal sex. In each of these situations, the receptive partner (vagina, anus or mouth) is at the greatest risk. However, the inserting partner is also at high risk.

• From an infected mother to her newborn

HIV can be transmitted from the mother to her child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. Before An antiretroviral (full name: azidothymidine).AZT treatment was available, about 1 in 4 babies born to infected women became infected. Nowadays, when treatment is taken just before giving birth, this transmission rate is greatly reduced.

HIV is not transmitted in these ways:

You cannot get HIV through casual contact. The virus does not last long when outside the body and is easily killed with disinfectants like soap and bleach. You cannot get HIV from:

• Hugging
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Toilet seats
• Saliva (spit)
• Mosquito bites
• Shaking hands
• Donating blood
• Swimming pools
• Sharing eating utensils
• Food or objects handed by infected people

HIV is rarely transmitted in these ways:

• Blood transfusions and organ transplants

The risk of contracting HIV through The transfer of whole blood, blood components, or bone marrow from a healthy donor into the bloodstream of somebody who has lost blood or who has a blood disorder.blood transfusion and organ transplants is extremely low. Most of the potential donors that have a risk for HIV infection are rejected in advance. They also do extensive testing on the blood and organs for HIV infection.

• Being in a health care environment

There is a small risk of health care workers getting HIV from their patients, by needle stick accidents, and other blood transmissions. The risk of patients getting HIV from health care workers is also very small. The risk is there, but it is very small. If you stay alert you should be able to go your whole career without any accidents.

Are you at risk?

Anyone can get infected with HIV, both men and women, young and old. Nobody is resistant to contracting HIV.