6 False Causes of HIV

We’ve all heard of HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus. But did you know, despite the general awareness among the public, there are still many misconceptions? In fact, the average person may still struggle to realize how (and how not) this virus is actually spread.  This is especially relevant to the Black community, where 1 in 7 people with the virus don’t even know they have it! Given that Black folks represented over 40 percent of new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. in 2020, it’s time to get informed.  So let’s break down the facts from the fiction.  Not sure how HIV is spread? Think you might be at risk? Don’t know if a certain ‘vector’ for transmission is something to worry about? Here are six false causes of HIV that may have you tripped up… 1. Casual Contact Even to this day, people sometimes think that HIV just might get transmitted through casual contact. This includes things like hugging, shaking hands, or sharing utensils. The good news is, this is impossible. Fortunately, HIV cannot survive outside the human body for long. Skin-to-skin contact cannot spread it.  Rather, if you’re worried about spread, keep an eye on things like body fluids....