• Do You Know How HIV Is Transmitted?

    Take this quiz to find out!
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  • 1) HIV can be transmitted by a mosquito or other bug bite or by an animal bite.

  • Answer: False!

    Although humans can contract a variety of diseases and conditions from insects and animals, HIV is not on that list.

     

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  • 2) Sharing utensils, drinking glasses, toilets, telephones or clothing can transmit HIV.

  • Answer: False!

    These forms of sharing will not result in HIV transmission. Sharing needles, syringes or other injection equipment, however, with someone who has the virus can result in transmission of the virus.

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  • 3) HIV can be transmitted by attending school, church, restaurants, shopping malls or other public places where there are people living with the virus.

  • Answer: False!

    Being in the same social setting with a person living with HIV does not mean you will get the virus. HIV is transmitted through direct contact with certain body fluids (blood, semen, rectal or vaginal fluids and breast milk) from someone who has the virus.

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  • 4) Eating food handled, prepared or served by somebody who is HIV positive can result in transmission of the virus.

  • Answer: False!

    HIV does not survive outside the human body and cannot reproduce outside a host. Exposure to air, heat from cooking and stomach acid destroy the virus in food.

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  • 5) HIV is transmitted by touching, hugging or kissing a person who has the virus.

  • Answer: False!

    Only in extremely rare cases is HIV transmitted by deep, open-mouth kissing and only if a person with the virus has sores or gums that bleed into the bloodstream of an HIV-negative partner. Otherwise, these forms of physical contact will not result in HIV transmission.

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  • 6) Bodily fluids such as urine, feces, vomit, sweat, tears or saliva can transmit HIV.

  • Answer: False!

    HIV can be transmitted through these bodily fluids: blood, semen, vaginal secretions, rectal fluids and breast milk. For transmission of the virus to occur, these fluids must come into contact with a mucous membrane, such as those inside the anus or vagina, or the bloodstream via direct injection. A nursing mother can pass on the virus to an infant via breast feeding.

  • Click here to learn more about HIV transmission and risks.

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