Final answer:
HIV cannot be transmitted by hugging, kissing, sharing food or utensils, casual contact like shaking hands, or blood transfusions from a tested donor. Transmission requires direct contact with certain body fluids from an infected person, and casual contact does not pose a risk. Furthermore, donated blood is thoroughly tested for HIV, ensuring the safety of transfusions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under ordinary conditions, HIV cannot be transmitted by:
- Hugging or kissing
- Sharing food or utensils
- Casual contact like shaking hands
- Blood transfusion from a tested donor
HIV is primarily transmitted through direct contact of mucous membranes or body fluids such as blood, semen, or breast milk. It is important to understand that casual contact, such as the scenarios mentioned, do not provide the means for HIV to be spread. Only certain body fluids from a person who has HIV can transmit the virus to another person, and these include blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and breast milk. Moreover, all blood donations are tested for HIV to ensure safety in transfusions.
The belief that HIV can be transmitted through nonsexual contacts like kissing or sharing glasses is a myth. People cannot become infected with HIV by donating blood either, as the needles used for drawing blood are always new and sterile. It is also important to debunk the myth that HIV/AIDS was created deliberately by scientists. So, under ordinary circumstances, HIV cannot be transmitted through the acts of hugging, sharing eating utensils, casual handshakes, or receiving blood from a tested donor.