Say `AIDS` and dime-a-dozen misconceptions abound. The chart topper is that AIDS is supposedly a disease of gay men and intravenous drug users. The facts are otherwise. No doubt in the early years many HIV-positive cases were reported amongst the Western gay community. In recent years, however, prevalence rates among gays have leveled off. Instead, heterosexual transmission has been forging ahead of all other modes of transmission.
The AIDS virus is NOT contracted through touching, hugging, kissing, massage, sharing toilet seats, drinking or eating from utensils used by an infected person or any other mode of casual contact. Nor does working, socializing and living with infected people cause the disease.
Repeated sexual contact without proper precautions with an infected person, using an infected syringe, exposure to infected blood or sexual fluids are ways through which the disease can be transmitted.
Donating blood also does not run the risk of disease contraction since needles used for such purposes are always sterile. Since the AIDS virus is unable to survive outside the human body beyond a short duration, dried blood is not infectious For this reason, mosquitoes are incapable of transmitting HIV as the virus cannot replicate itself in the intestine of insects.
Although medical personnel are potentially at risk from infection, this is minimal if protective gear such as gloves, masks and goggles are always used when handling potentially infected material.
