HIV/AIDS

How HIV is Transmitted

By sexual contact with an infected person
By sharing needles and/or syringes (primarily for drug injection) with someone who is infected
Through transfusions of infected blood or blood clotting factors (rare due to blood screening)
Babies born to HIV-infected women may become infected before or during birth or through breast-feeding after birth
Accidentally being stuck with a needle containing HIV-infected blood (usually hidden within garbage)

Gloves should be worn during contact with blood or other body fluids that could possibly contain visible blood, such as urine, feces, or vomit
Cuts, sores, or breaks on both the caregivers and patients exposed skin should be covered with bandages
Hands and other parts of the body should be washed immediately after contact with blood or other body fluids, and surfaces soiled with blood should be disinfected appropriately
Practices that increase the likelihood of blood contact, such as sharing of razors and toothbrushes, should be avoided
Needles and other sharp instruments should be used only when medically necessary and handled according to recommendations for health-care settings. (Do not put caps back on needles by hand or remove needles from syringes. Dispose of needles in puncture-proof containers

For more information or to get tested: Talk with your doctor, local public health unit, or community health/resource centre