Expert: Terry B - 9/18/2006

Question
Dear Sir TERRY,

Thanks for the very prompt reply, you are very kind!

There was one detail, so-called "risk" missed,in that meal, I also drank a glass of iced- white coffice, Was this different from a bowl of food ? I was a little afraid since the temperature, stuff, .,.. in a cup of iced- white coffice was not deadful to HIV... IN fact, May be this glass of coffice, containing milk, sugar, the cold temperature of ice, are good to HIV to remain ALIVE...

IF HIV infected blood in a glass of iced- white coffice,Are 1-2 seconds enough to kill off HIV ?I asked this because I drank the coffice first, then I ate the food,DID HIV die right off in the glass of iced- white coffice before I drank the cup...If some blood was in that cup, I could not recognise that color of blood

PLS answer me, thanks a lot,TERRY,

ALl the best,

HUY  

Answer
Dear Huy:

There has been, on and off during the 25 years of awakening to this epidemic, many cases of hysteria fueled by fears about HIV/AIDS.  In your questions I see that such fears have not passed - though there is much evidence from many sources addressing fear of transmission.  You are not alone, nor have we in the education community eliminated all rumour and baseless fear.

Simply, HIV is not transmitted through food or drink.  I would be cautious of anyone who implied that someone has tampered with your food - as you described in your waiter's story about a stranger visiting your table - and wonder about their motivations - trying to sell you another entre?  Hoping for a tip?   

Doubtlessly, somewhere in the course of our experience with HIV,  someone who tested positive tried to tell his or her partner that they were sexually faithful and made up some "other" way in which they were infected; despite all science to the contrary, they are stuck with that story and perpetuate myths.

Again, your food (or drink) poses no threat for HIV transmission unless you are consuming copious amounts of blood, semen, vaginal secretions, or breast milk.  

May this put this issue to rest, at least for now.

Cheers!

Terry