Can Mosquitoes transmit HIV

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JAMS1970
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by JAMS1970 on Wed Jun 12, 2013 6:32 pm

Can Mosquitoes transmit HIV

I am due to travel abroad shortly and I would like to know If Mosquitoes can transmit HIV as the place I will be travelling too has a high rate of HIV

Thanks

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Dr Richard Ma
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by Dr Richard Ma on Wed Jun 12, 2013 8:05 pm

Re: Can Mosquitoes transmit HIV

Good question!

Short answer: no.

According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the USA, there have been no evidence to link areas with high prevalence of HIV and mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes do not inject blood from one person to another, it injects saliva and then sucks blood.

The virus does not survive or replicate inside mosquitoes.

However, they do spread malaria where it is endemic so make sure you seek travel advice about take precautions including antimalarial medications!
Dr Richard Ma
General Practitioner

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Dr Steve Taylor
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by Dr Steve Taylor on Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:32 pm

Re: Can Mosquitoes transmit HIV

IIt's also probably worth mentioning that you are far more likely to contract HIV and other STIs from sex whilst on holiday, than any exotic tropical infection. So as well as your mosquito nets and insect repellent , a good supply of condoms will keep you safe.

For other ways you can and cannot catch HIV check out our What is HIV? booklet
free to download at http://www.savinglivesuk.com/wp-content ... active.pdf

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