The Myths About AIDS
Earlier, when the issue of AIDS began, and even today, there are still many misconceptions about the disease. A microbiologist for the Center for Disease Control Program in Alaska once said, “The only way to dispel the myths and help people deal with AIDS rationally is through education.” (American Health Consultant Inc). So, in order to let people understand the truth, the teaching and the learners must be clear.
Myth#1: Early in the 1980’s, there was a misconception that people didn’t know much about the disease. The truth though, is that research has been going on for a long period of time. It was also reported that scientific articles up to 500 were published monthly to inform people.
Myth #2: People say that AIDS came from homosexuals. This is not true because it could happen to anyone who practices activities such as using needles or having unprotected sex with more than one partner.
Myth #3: People feel that you can get AIDS though hugging, shaking hands, or kissing an infected person. This is not true because it could only transmit through body fluids such as blood, breast milk, and semen.
Myth #4: People are scared that the AIDS virus can come from body fluids touching the skin, such as tears and urine. This is not true. Urine and tears only touch the skin. You can only be infected if the virus enters to a person’s broken skin. The skin is actually a good protector.
Myth #5: Donation of blood can get you AIDS. We must remember that donating blood is very safe and has a very clean process because new bags, needles, instruments, and tubes are fresh each time.
Myth #6: Products like sprays and detergents can rid the virus of AIDS. This is false and the products are unproductive because the disease is not spread environmentally on the surface (AIDS Alert, v3 n1 p51(3).