Vol. 7, No. 1• November 2002

Clearing Up Common Misconceptions About How People Get HIV/AIDS

You cannot contract HIV through normal everyday interactions with people who have HIV/AIDS. This includes shaking hands, hugging, kissing, crying, coughing, and sneezing. You also cannot contract the virus from water in pools or baths, from food or beverages, from towels, cups, dishes, straws, or other eating utensils, or from toilets, doorknobs, telephones, office equipment, or furniture. HIV is not transmitted through vomit, sweat, stool, or nasal secretions, unless these substances contain blood. Although the virus has been isolated in very small concentrations in tears, urine, and saliva, you cannot get HIV through contact with these fluids. In addition, you cannot get HIV from mosquito or other insect bites.

HIV is spread by sexual contact with an infected person, by sharing needles and/or syringes (primarily for drug injection) with someone who is infected, or, less commonly (and now very rarely in countries where blood is screened for HIV antibodies), through transfusions of infected blood or blood clotting factors. Babies born to HIV-infected women may become infected before or during birth or through breast-feeding after birth.

If you have questions about HIV transmission, call the National AIDS Hotline (800/342-2437), or visit <http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts/transmission.htm>.

Copyright � 2002 Jordan Institute for Families