What is HIV/Aids? Is HIV/AIDS a common infection? What are the symptoms of HIV/AIDS ? How is HIV transmitted? HIV/AIDS and pregnancy HIV/AIDS in the newborn How is HIV/AIDS diagnosed? Is there a treatment for HIV/AIDS ? How can people infected with HIV lower the risk of spreading the virus? How can I prevent infection by HIV/AIDS? If you have been exposed or potentially exposed to HIV... What to do? — Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) What does the future hold? When can we expect a vaccine against HIV/AIDS? Links and References

The methods of transmission of HIV in the human are now well understood:

No risk:

• Kissing without the exchange of saliva.
• Mutual masturbation without using vaginal secretions or sperm as lubricant.
• Massage and body contact, without exchange of body fluids.

Very low or no risk:

• Kissing with saliva exchange (deep or french-kissing).
• Oro-genital sexual relations (fellatio or cunnilingus) without ejaculation or swallowing sperm or vaginal secretions.

Very low risk:

• Oro-genital sexual relations (fellatio or cunnilingus) with ejaculation and/or ingestion of sperm or vaginal secretions (including menstrual flow).
• Protected (with condom) vaginal or anal penetration.

Very high risk:

• Unprotected (without condom) penile penetration into the vagina or anus.
• The sharing of sexual toys or objects contaminated with sperm, blood or vaginal secretions.
• Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug paraphernalia used in the preparation or injection of illicit drugs.
• The birth of an infant to a seropositive mother not treated for her HIV/AIDS.
• Blood products, blood, organs or sperm received during the period of 1979 and November 1985 (dates during which no HIV detection test was available) are deemed to be potentially at risk for having transmitted HIV.

It is important to note that we cannot contract HIV by shaking hands, swimming in public pools, sitting on public toilets, from clothing, food utensils, glasses, plates, food, telephones, mosquitoes or animals. There is no risk of contracting the infection in a bus, train or elevator occupied by an individual infected with HIV or AIDS.