[Hacksaw]

You can't get HIV from an HIV+ person spitting on you.

Actually, you can.

"In an infected person, HIV is found in any body fluid or substance which contains lymphocytes (T4-cell and company). Substances containing lymphocytes include: blood, semen, vaginal and cervical secretions, mother's milk, saliva, tears, urine, and feces." from http://www.aproposinc.com/hap/catch.htm

And:

"There is a very low concentration of the virus in tears and saliva, so these cases of transmission are very rare." from http://www.eastchester.k12.ny.us/schools/ms/AIDS/AIDS3.html

Rare doesn't mean can't. Since there is no cure for AIDS, I don't think I'll take a chance of exposing myself to it.

The odds of you getting HIV from an HIV+ person after being scratched, bitten or bled on are extremely small -- and that's assuming that the kids are HIV+.

You take that chance yourself then.

[Alter Kaker]

Actually, you can.

Oonly tiny numbers of HIV viruses are found in saliva (compared to vast numbers in other fluids). Not one person has ever been shown to have been infected by saliva or tears.

Since there is no cure for AIDS, I don't think I'll take a chance of exposing myself to it.

Nobody has ever contracted HIV from kissing anybody, and that includes people in long term romantic relationships with HIV+ people. And you're worried about getting infected from being spat on?

[CDHart]

I wonder about HIC being transferred by mosquitoes, as malaria and heartworms are.

Carolyn