The HIV virus is found in the bodily fluids. Blood, sperm, pre-ejaculatory fluid, vaginal and cervical secretions and mother's milk contain it in quantities high enough to enable infection not only through vaginal and anal sex but also through oral-genital intercourse.

Saliva, tears and urine contain considerably smaller quantities, so such infection has not been recorded. The risk of transmission of the virus by the mentioned bodily fluids (saliva, urine) would only exist if they contain blood.

HIV infection spreads in the following ways:

• sexual intercourse with an infected person,
• acceptance of infected blood, blood products, tissues or organs,
• infected blood through infected needles, syringes and other instruments used for piercing or cutting the skin, and
• from infected mother to child before, during or after birth.

The concern of family members, friends and co-workers of contracting HIV in everyday contacts with an infected person at home, at work or through normal social contacts, is unfounded.

In addition, HIV infection is not spread by:

• coughing, sneezing,
• shaking hands, hugging, kissing on the cheeks or mouth ("dry"),
• use of cutlery and dishes,
• use of toilets, showers and towels,
• swimming in swimming pools,
• bites of mosquitoes and other insects.