Scientists and medical authorities agree
that HIV does not survive well outside the body, making the possibility
of environmental transmission remote.Some people fear that HIV might be transmitted in other ways; however,
no scientific evidence to support any of these fears has been found. If
HIV were being transmitted through other routes (such as through air,
water, or insects), the pattern of reported AIDS cases would be much
different from what has been observed.
For example, if mosquitoes could transmit HIV infection, many more
young children and pre-adolescents would have been diagnosed with AIDS.Results from laboratory studies should not be used to assess
specific personal risk of infection because (1) the amount of virus
studied
is not found in human specimens or elsewhere in nature, and (2) no
one has been identified as infected with HIV due to contact with
an environmental surface. Additionally, HIV is unable to reproduce
outside
its living host (unlike many bacteria or fungi, which may do so under
suitable conditions), except under laboratory conditions; therefore,
it does not spread or maintain infectiousness outside its host.
that HIV does not survive well outside the body, making the possibility
of environmental transmission remote.Some people fear that HIV might be transmitted in other ways; however,
no scientific evidence to support any of these fears has been found. If
HIV were being transmitted through other routes (such as through air,
water, or insects), the pattern of reported AIDS cases would be much
different from what has been observed.
For example, if mosquitoes could transmit HIV infection, many more
young children and pre-adolescents would have been diagnosed with AIDS.Results from laboratory studies should not be used to assess
specific personal risk of infection because (1) the amount of virus
studied
is not found in human specimens or elsewhere in nature, and (2) no
one has been identified as infected with HIV due to contact with
an environmental surface. Additionally, HIV is unable to reproduce
outside
its living host (unlike many bacteria or fungi, which may do so under
suitable conditions), except under laboratory conditions; therefore,
it does not spread or maintain infectiousness outside its host.