A. Thanks for asking, it's a question a lot of people need to know the answer to.
Unfortunately, medical science can't give us all the answers all the time. And to date, although there are some very good treatments available for helping people living with HIV, there is still no known cure or vaccine.
Fortunately, however, there are some things we DO know. HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) is transmitted through contact with contaminated bodily fluids, namely blood and semen. That means it is transmitted by sexual intercourse, both vaginal and anal, or by injection of contaminated blood or blood products, such as sharing needles for the purposes of intravenous drug use. It is also transmissable from a pregnant women to the fetus, via the placenta.
Unlike most other viruses we know, HIV is NOT transmissable through casual contact with an infected individual. The HIV virus dies when exposed to air and therefore CANNOT be transmitted by a handshake, a toilet seat, or a hug.
And remember, regular use of a condom during sexual intercourse remains one of the best methods for preventing the spread of HIV and for protecting both you and your partner(s).
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