Can I get AIDS from a mosquito bite or by handling raw meat?

Dear Bitten (or smitten?) and The butcher,   

You’re both in the clear—you can’t get Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (the virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDs)) from either raw meat or mosquitoes, because the virus can’t be transmitted outside of humans. 

No matter how much raw meat you’re handling, you’ll never be at risk of getting HIV from this activity due to it being an animal byproduct. Additionally, while a mosquito bite might make you miserably itchy, being exposed to blood after squishing a mosquito won’t put you at risk of contracting HIV either.  

How does HIV spread and what happens if it’s left untreated? 

HIV can only be transmitted by activities that involve contact with human body fluids. More specifically, fluids including semen, vaginal secretions, blood, and breast milk. These can be passed during activities like anal and vaginal sex without the use of a barrier contraceptive method, through sharing needles or syringes, and breastfeeding. It can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy or during the delivery process. Outside the human body, the virus isn’t stable and can’t survive for long. Additionally, it doesn’t reproduce well in most non-human primates.  

When HIV is left untreated, it damages the immune system and over the course of many years, progresses from HIV infection to AIDs. However, thanks to scientific advancements, most people in the United States living with HIV can effectively manage their condition using antiretroviral therapy (ART). 

Can you get HIV from mosquito bites or animal blood?  

The short answer is no. Remember that the 'H' in 'HIV' stands for human meaning only people can pass HIV on to other people. While mosquitoes may crash your picnic, they won’t bring HIV with them. When you get a mosquito bite, the mosquito doesn’t inject the blood of another human into you. Instead, it injects saliva, which is what causes a bump or itchy reaction in most people. Because the virus isn’t able to naturally reproduce outside of a human host, mosquito saliva can’t carry HIV. 

In most cases, a mosquito won’t be carrying another person’s blood when it bites you, as it would have fully digested its previous meal before it decides to feed again. It’s more likely that any blood in the mosquito’s system at the time it’s killed is probably your own. Even still, mosquitos don’t carry enough human blood to transmit the virus, and most HIV-positive people don’t have a consistently high level of the virus in their blood. Because of this, there hasn’t been a recorded case of someone who’s gotten HIV from a mosquito.  

What are the risks of mosquito bites?  

Even though mosquitoes can’t transmit HIV, they can carry other harmful illnesses. These are called mosquito-borne diseases, and they can include:  

• Malaria
• West Nile virus
• Dengue fever
• Zika
• Yellow fever
• Chikungunya
• Japanese encephalitis
• Dirofilariasis
• Mayaro
• Rift valley fever
• Ross river virus 

List adapted from Medical News Today  

What can you do to reduce your risk of contracting mosquito-related illnesses? 

Many of these illnesses are most common in tropical and subtropical areas. That said, even if you don’t live in a warm or humid climate, you might consider taking precautions to prevent mosquito bites, because they can be risky anywhere. You’ll also be saving yourself the trouble of annoying, itchy bites!  

An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent is your best protection against mosquitoes. Wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts may help to limit the amount of skin exposed to bugs. This includes tucking your shirt into your pants—or your pants into your socks—to prevent mosquitoes from getting access to the skin underneath your clothes.  

If you’re planning to travel to a tropical or subtropical area, you could consider talking to a medical provider about vaccinations or prevention medications available for mosquito-borne illnesses.  

What are some risks to handling raw meat?  

Although handling raw meat won’t give you HIV, it can dish up some unpleasant surprises. Luckily, whether you’re a butcher or simply cooking meat at home, there are some food-handling practices that can help prevent the spread of food-borne illnesses and other diseases associated with handling raw meat.  

Raw meat may contain bacteria and viruses that can lead to food poisoning and cause vomiting, diarrhea, allergic reactions, and fever. In more serious cases, food poisoning can require medical attention. 

How can you reduce your risk of contracting raw meat related illnesses? 

To prevent these germs from spreading, keep raw meat separate from all other food items, especially those that won’t be cooked, like salads. You might consider using separate chopping boards for raw meat and storing meat in plastic bags to prevent liquid from dripping onto other foods. You could also refrain from washing raw meat, as it may create puddles and sprays of juice that spread bacteria throughout your kitchen.  

Thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water after handling raw meat can help you avoid spreading germs on your hands to other surfaces and food that you touch.  

In short: mosquitoes may suck (literally), and raw meat might be risky business, but HIV isn’t part of the package.  

Hopefully this response got to the meat of your questions!