What are the main ways in which hiv/aids can be spread from one person to another
HIV/AIDS can be spread from one person to another through various ways, including:
1. Unprotected sexual contact: HIV can be transmitted through l, , or oral sex with an infected person if one partner has the virus in their blood, semen, l fluids, or rectal fluids.
2. Sharing needles or syringes: Sharing drug injection equipment contaminated with HIV-infected blood can transmit the virus between people who inject drugs.
3. Blood transfusions and organ/tissue transplants: HIV transmission can occur if a person receives HIV-infected blood, organs, tissues, or cells from a donor. This risk has been significantly reduced due to improved screening and testing procedures.
4. Mother-to-child transmission: An HIV-infected mother can pass the virus to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. Antiretroviral therapy and other preventive measures can help reduce the risk of transmission in these cases.
5. Occupational exposure: Healthcare workers can be exposed to HIV through needlestick injuries or other occupational accidents involving contact with infected blood or other bodily fluids.
6. Piercing and tattooing: HIV can be transmitted through unsterilized instruments used in tattooing, piercing, or other procedures that involve breaking the skin.
7. Biting or scratching: In rare cases, HIV has been transmitted through deep, open-mouthed kissing when both partners had significant bleeding in their mouths, or through biting/scratching if one partner had infected blood and the other partner's skin was broken and exposed to the blood.
It is important to note that HIV cannot be transmitted through casual contact, such as hugging, shaking hands, or sharing utensils or living spaces with an infected person. The virus does not survive for long outside the human body, making it highly unlikely to be transmitted through the environment.