Expert: Terry B - 9/15/2006

Question
Dear Experts,
Sorry for my bad English since I am from VIETNAM!
I have some trouble, I need your help.

Although you establish that HIV could transmit in three ways: Unprotected sexual intercourse, used syringes, and blood transfusion ..But I have one question:

Could HIV transmis via contaminated food ? When I was having lunch in the restaurant, and I went to toilet, left my food uncared, as I went back, the waiter said that there was a man who looked very... suspicious, he came near my  table and maybe put something into my bowl. The waiter advised me not to take the food, but I ate the whole bowl....

If the man intentionaly tried to put some HIV infected blood into my bowl and I ate that bowl right away, could this situation put me at a risk? Does HIV live outside the body for more than 3-5 seconds ? And Could the food kill HIV ?I do not mention the effectiveness of saliva in my mouth because when I was at home and looked at the mirror, I realised that  I have some rotten teeth ? IF HIV was still alive and brought into my mouth, I was scared to death since HIV could transmiss via my rotten teeth....

PLS explaine this to me, thanks alot in advance!  

Answer
Dear Huy:

The simple answer is that you could not be infected with HIV from the situation you describe.  Please read through other questions and answers for discussion of the virus outside the body, etc....  Sorry to be brief but I thought a quick answer would be best - read on in this forum for more information.

Terry