How well does HIV survive outside the body.\n\nCan it survive outside the body?
138522
Scientists and medical authorities agree that HIV does not survive well outside the body, making the possibility of environmental transmission remote. HIV is found in varying concentrations or amounts in blood, semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk, saliva, and tears. To obtain data on the survival of HIV, laboratory studies have required the use of artificially high concentrations of laboratory-grown virus. Although these unnatural concentrations of HIV can be kept alive for days or even weeks under precisely controlled and limited laboratory conditions, CDC studies have shown that drying of even these high concentrations of HIV reduces the amount of infectious virus by 90 to 99 percent within several hours. Since the HIV concentrations used in laboratory studies are much higher than those actually found in blood or other specimens, drying of HIV-infected human blood or other body fluids reduces the theoretical risk of environmental transmission to that which has been observed - essentially zero. Incorrect interpretations of conclusions drawn from laboratory studies have in some instances caused unnecessary alarm.
418834
OK, HIV cant be transmitted thru mosquitoes cause first: HUMAN... it exists only in humans.  It cannot exist anywhere else.  Remember that when the virus is outside person (that is in the blood) it dies, and only "reactivates" when it comes in contact with blood again (eg an open wound).  Therefore It cant live in a mosquito, cause its not human.  The article below may help.\n\n\nInsects\n\nFrom the onset of the HIV epidemic, there has been concern about transmission of the virus by biting and bloodsucking insects. However, studies conducted by researchers at CDC and elsewhere have shown no evidence of HIV transmission through insects--even in areas where there are many cases of AIDS and large populations of insects such as mosquitoes. Lack of such outbreaks, despite intense efforts to detect them, supports the conclusion that HIV is not transmitted by insects.\n\nThe results of experiments and observations of insect biting behavior indicate that when an insect bites a person, it does not inject its own or a previously bitten person’s or animal’s blood into the next person bitten. Rather, it injects saliva, which acts as a lubricant or anticoagulant so the insect can feed efficiently. Such diseases as yellow fever and malaria are transmitted through the saliva of specific species of mosquitoes. However, HIV lives for only a short time inside an insect and, unlike organisms that are transmitted via insect bites, HIV does not reproduce (and does not survive) in insects. Thus, even if the virus enters a mosquito or another sucking or biting insect, the insect does not become infected and cannot transmit HIV to the next human it feeds on or bites. HIV is not found in insect feces.\n\nThere is also no reason to fear that a biting or bloodsucking insect, such as a mosquito, could transmit HIV from one person to another through HIV-infected blood left on its mouth parts. Two factors serve to explain why this is so--first, infected people do not have constant, high levels of HIV in their bloodstreams and, second, insect mouth parts do not retain large amounts of blood on their surfaces. Further, scientists who study insects have determined that biting insects normally do not travel from one person to the next immediately after ingesting blood. Rather, they fly to a resting place to digest this blood meal.
643274
Hello,\n\nThat is great that you are still friends with  HIV person most people would just distant themselves from them.\n\nHiv is bloodborne, which means they has to be ablood to blood contact. \n\nAs far as i know like everyday contact it isnt possible to be infected with hiv, remember hiv dosent survive well in the air and it also means that the more it is being exposed in the air, the weaker it gets and also harder for it to infect a non-hiv person. \n\nI also know that it cannot survive in water as well and also when a hiv blood is dried up completely its harmless as far as i know. \n\nThis are things taht you cannot catch hiv from,\n\nA mosquito bite \nA toilet \nSharing food or utensils \nHugging \nTaking care of someone with AIDS \nKissing \nA swimming pool \nGiving blood \nSneezing or coughing \nSpitting \nSharing makeup \n\nHope this gives you some peace of mind and you do have the right to be paranoid because i have known some people get extremely paranoid and showing some symptoms but because they think alot it is just stress nothing more. \n\nTake care and Thank you
85014
The body fluids that contain the HIV virus are Semen, Vaginal fluid, blood, breast milk and now they have added the organs of an infected person. \nHIV can be spread both ways, cuts or damage to tissue opens up another way for the virus to get into the body, but sperm alone also does it. \nWe don't have the exact numbers but it is more lickly that a man will infect a woman because she is accepting his sperm into her body, and it stays in her body even after he has pulled out so the exposure time is longer.\nAnd its very safe to spread the word on using comdoms, a whole lot safer then not using them and a lot more realistic then telling people to wait until marriage. \nA condom is not 100% protective and personally I haven't heard an exact % but have always been told that it GREATLY reduces the risk. The reason you can't really put a % on it is because it comes down to human error. Condoms have to be stored in the right locations, not too not not too cold, not under a light or in the sun, not in a wallet...there are a lot of factors that go into it. And they must be used the correct way for each sex ACT, or*al and an*ul as well. \nSo the correct message is not just to use protection but we have to tell them and show them HOW to use it. We also have to remember that HIV is not just spread through sex but also sharing drug needles/works and the other risk behaviors.\nBecause its NOT WHO YOU ARE its WHAT you DO that puts you at risk for HIV!
130812
(m)\n\nFALSE. \n\nThe AIDS virus is actually quite flimsy and dies when the fluid it lives in, usually semen or blood, is exposed to air and dries out. It does not live long or well outside the human body, probably for not longer than a few hours. Wiping up the fluids with household bleach can kill the virus. In addition, the virus can be washed from the hands or skin with regular soap.
163024
HIV is a bloodborne, fluid pathogen, That means there must be an exchange of body fluid. example the person with the infection bit u and broke the skin. HIV while the majority of the virus is in the blood stream can and is spread thru other body fluids such as semen, saliva and vaginal fluids of course the other person must have abrasions, cuts, tears in order for the virus to enter their body. Remember even minute microscopic abrasion can let the virus enter your body.\n\nHope that helps and perhaps brings you some peace of mind.\nbest of luck.
36422
Wow, i wonder if there is actually a way to do that with protection. Good thing you are just a wanna be becuase i hear just about all Vamps nowadays have the HIV.
37665
nothing can cure the HIV virus. it may aid in slowing down the symptoms. but cure it, no.
485077
I'll try to keep it simple, but comprehensive\n\nThe main symptom of HIV is that the body begins to kill off its own T-Cells, which help to keep the body disease-free. When the number of T-Cells reaches a certain critical low point, AIDS can develop.\n\nHIV is a virus, which means that it is small enough to enter other cells in the body. When it enters a cell, it messes around with the cell's DNA and turns it into a virus factory. The more viruses there are, more T-cells die. The medications that your friend is taking should kill off some of the virus, but HIV can adapt to drugs quickly and sometimes develop immunity to the medicines.\n\nIf your friend has a good T-Cell count, that means that he still has many of his T-Cells, enough to stay relatively healthy. Viral load simply is a measure of how much of the HIV virus is inside of his body. High viral load is bad. Low viral load is good.\n\nIf your friend is sexually active, he MUST USE A CONDOM AT ALL TIMES! I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH. Also, he should avoid sexual contact when he is having an outbreak (this is when virus production kicks into overdrive. This can happen either spontaneously, or because it develops an immunity to the medicine he is taking). As long as he uses a condom, takes his medication, and doesn't have sex during his outbreaks, the chances of spreading HIV are marginal (but still POSSIBLE, as condoms are not 100% effective)\n\nI hope i helped you with this. Please respond here or e-mail me back with any other questions. E-mail: mrwasabi90@hotmail.com (Preferably e-mail)\n\nIf you want more information I suggest calling Dr. Drew on LoveLine. He is a board-certified physician and will gladly answer questions about sex, STDs, drug addiction, etc. 1-800-LOVE-191 (call between 10pm and 12 PM Pacific Standard Time)\n\nAll I can say to you and your friend is good luck.
312696
HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) presents a number of challenges to finding a cure:\n1) Whenever you get a virus or bacterial disease, the medicine that you received typically doesn't kill the virus or bacterial directly. Instead it helps your immune system fight it by making it more difficult for the virus to reproduced or a range of other techniques. Your immune system will do still most of the work in defeating the infection. The HIV virus attacks the immune system. As it result this reduces the effectiveness of most traditional techniques.\n2) It mutates quickly. A drug that work effectively now will eventually stop working (in the case of AIDS it stops working even before the person infected is cured of the HIV virus requiring drug cocktails and other techniques)\n3) Because of 2 many slight variation of the virus exist out there. An effective vaccine would have to target most or all of them. This is a problem because the best treatments for a virus is a vaccine. \nThat there is no cure for a disease is not uncommon. There is no cure for the flu, a virus that kills more people every year in the US than does AIDS. There is no cure for the common cold (another virus), herpes (another virus), malaria (bacteria), ...
293416
there are plenty of antibiotics now that may increase life, HIV hurts the body's immune system because the bodies T-cells are infected, usually people don't die from HIV/AIDS but from common diseases such as the flu, diarrhea, common cold.
430245
Based on my knowledge on this issue, if blood is exposed out in the open (air), the virus inside can only survive for a few seconds. Therefore it won't be harmful.\n\nReading from your statement you mentioned it was a fresh stain. I will imply it as dry.\n\nIf you are still worried you can always go for a HIV testing. There's only one test to see whether you're HIV positive or not. Most government hospitals give free testing and the result is strictly private and confidential.\n\nDo inform the doctor of how this matter came to be. There is a 'window period' which means that you might/might not carry the HIV virus. This 'window period' means you have to go for regular testing because they can't detect the virus for a certain period of time. \n\nHope this helps.
475494
A person who is infected may not show active signs of the disease and therefore even without proper medical care could live for years, however it is best if anyone thinks they are infected or conduct themselves which could lead to infection should get tested.\n\nTechnically AIDS/HIV does not kill a person..it merely weakens and compromises the immune system allowing other diseases/germs to weaken the person and kill them (possibly) shen the disease is active. With proper care and medication people who are infected can live for years and lead a "normal" life.\n\nIt is transmitted through the transfer of bodily fluids. Such as unprotected sex, sharing needles, blood transfusions (done years ago), open wounds, etc. You cannot get it from a handshake, sharing the toilet seat, casual contact.
294835
No. HIV (the virus causing AIDS) is very vulnerable. It needs to live in a moist environment. 2 hours out in the air, it dies. If you're really worried, use some good antiseptic soap to wash the jeans, hang it out to dry, or take it to the dry cleaners.
241845
The reason for the spread of HIV, where ever a person might live, is pretty much the people's own actions.  With the info we have now, barring blood transfusions (and even then rare since blood is tested) and freaky things like a maniac poking someone with an infected needle, the disease is almost 100% preventable. It is quite simple.  Don't hop into bed with everyone you see.  Don't do intravenous drugs.  How hard is that?
507323
HIV dies almost immediately upon exposure to air.  It can not live outside the body.\n\nHIV is found in many bodily fluids; it doesn't matter if you're having intercourse or merely "fingering".  HIV is found in vaginal fluids, semen, and blood.  It doesn't suddenly decide to appear because you're having intercourse; it's always there.
226009
Where is the claim that the virus is "dead" once it leaves the body??? The virus is transmitted when an infected person shares bodily fluid with the fluid of another person. The virus isn't magically dead if it leaves the body - it exists within the fluid. This fluid can remain on the bristles of the toothbrush and toothbrushes are notorious for penetrating the gum walls of the mouth thus proving an effective way to the person's bloodstream (the other person's fluid - blood)\n\nAlso note that small traces of fecal matter can also be found on a toothbrush that has been left out on the sink or somewhere close to an open toilet. If the toilet seat is open when you flush, then small amounts of fecal and urine matter can travel up through the air and land on convenient places - like an exposed toothbrush. I'm not saying all fecal matter has the HIV virus, but storing your toothbrush inside the cabinet and NOT letting ANYONE else use it - would prevent unnecessary infection from various pathogens.\n\nMore information on the subject and especially on transmission methods can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV#Transmission