Home > Resources > HIV 101 > How is HIV Transmitted?

HIV is not a hearty virus and does not live outside the body for any length of time. Transmission of the virus therefore, is not possible casually. The most significant transmission modes are through unprotected sexual contact (vaginal and anal sex are the highest risk), sharing needles and syringes to inject drugs, from mother to child during childbirth or through breast feeding, via transfusions, organ transplants, through tattooing and body piercing, and by needle stick or occupational exposure.

You cannot get HIV from a toilet seat, touching an infected person, kissing, being sneezed or coughed upon, through contact with tears, sweat, or saliva, and contact with urine and feces of a person living with HIV.