AIDS/HIV - FAQs

1. What are the main routes of HIV transmission?
The main routes of HIV transmission are:
Unprotected penetrative intercourse with someone who is infected.

Injection or transfusion of contaminated blood or blood products taken from someone who is infected.

From an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy, at birth and through breast-feeding.

Sharing unsterilised injection needles and syringes that has been previously used by someone who is infected.

2. Is there any association between HIV and other STDs?
Existence of STDs has an impact upon HIV/AIDS infection. The presence of STDs can increase the risk of HIV transmission.

3. Can I get HIV from a mosquito?
No it is not possible to get HIV from mosquitoes. When taking blood from someone mosquitoes do not inject blood from previous person.

4. Can HIV virus be transmitted outside of the body?
A HIV virus may live for some time outside of the body, but scientists agree that HIV does not survive well in the environment, making the possibility of environmental transmission remote.