You CAN’T catch it from a toothbrush or kissing – and being HIV positive ISN’T a death sentence, say the experts
THERE have been huge gains made in the medical fight against HIV and AIDS.
But public perceptions of the disease are still mirror those seen in the 1980s, experts at the sexual health charity, Terrence Higgins Trust warned.
The YouGov survey, which studied 2,000 people and coincides with World AIDS Day, reveals the extent to which myths and inaccuracies about HIV are still prevalent in Great Britain.
It found that one in five Brits think the HIV virus can be transmitted by kissing, while 30 per cent think that sharing a toothbrush with someone who's HIV positive can also cause infection.
Likewise, one in 10 think that it can be transmitted by sharing scissors or clippers at the hairdressers.
But, the virus does not survive outside the body and cannot be passed through saliva or skin-to-skin contact - meaning it is impossible to transmit the virus in these ways.
However, in addition, the survey also revealed public perceptions do not reflect how far HIV treatment itself has come in the past 30 years.
Currently, effective medication works by reducing the amount of the virus in the blood to undetectable levels, meaning it can’t be passed on at all, and people can expect to live as long as anyone else.
Misunderstanding of the virus can fuel stigma and cause immense distress for people coming to terms with an HIV diagnosis. Much more needs to be done to bring the British public up to date with what HIV means in 2016.
Ian Green, Chief Executive of THT
RELATED LINKS
Only 29 per cent of those surveyed were aware that people on effective HIV treatment can have children without passing on the virus, and just over half (58%) of British adults believe that people with the virus can live into old age.
Just four out of ten (39%) were aware that people with HIV can have sex without passing on the virus, if they are on effective treatment.
Meanwhile, less than a fifth agreed that there was currently an HIV epidemic in the UK. A majority (53%) disagreed, and three out of ten were not sure.
The results are shocking given that an estimated 103,700 people are living with HIV in England, Wales and Scotland. Of these, 17 per cent are undiagnosed and do not know about their infection.
Ian Green, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “We’ve come a long way since the AIDS crisis first emerged, when the nation was gripped by panic and fear. Thankfully, we now know far more about how HIV is and is not transmitted, and medical advances now mean HIV doesn’t have to stand in the way of living a long and healthy life.
“But it’s not over – while science has moved on, we can see today that inaccurate myths from the 1980s are still deeply entrenched in society, both in terms of how HIV is transmitted, and what it’s like to live with HIV.
“Misunderstanding of the virus can fuel stigma and cause immense distress for people coming to terms with an HIV diagnosis. Much more needs to be done to bring the British public up to date with what HIV means in 2016. There are more people living with HIV in the UK today than ever before.
"We must not let complacency and misunderstanding undo decades of progress. On World AIDS Day, it’s more important than ever that we’re still fighting, still caring, and still wearing our red ribbons with pride.”
WHAT IS HIV - AND HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED?
As noted by AIDS.gov, you can get or transmit HIV only through specific activities. Most commonly, people get or transmit HIV through sexual behaviors and needle or syringe use.
HIV is not spread easily. Only certain body fluids from a person who has HIV can transmit HIV: Blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids and breast milk.
These body fluids must come into contact with a mucous membrane or damaged tissue or be directly injected into your bloodstream (by a needle or syringe) for transmission to occur. Mucous membranes are found inside the rectum, vagina, penis, and mouth.
HIV is spread mainly by:
-Having anal or vaginal sex with someone who has HIV without using a condom or taking medicines to prevent or treat HIV.
-Anal sex is the highest-risk sexual behavior. For the HIV-negative partner, receptive anal sex (“bottoming”) is riskier than insertive anal sex (“topping”).
-Vaginal sex is the second highest-risk sexual behavior.
-Sharing needles or syringes, rinse water, or other equipment (“works”) used to prepare injection drugs with someone who has HIV. HIV can live in a used needle up to 42 days depending on temperature and other factors.
Less commonly, HIV may be spread:
-From mother to child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. Although the risk can be high if a mother is living with HIV and not taking medicine, recommendations to test all pregnant women for HIV and start HIV treatment immediately have lowered the number of babies who are born with HIV.
- By being stuck with an HIV-contaminated needle or other sharp object. This is a risk mainly for health care workers.