The Needs of Children During Pregnancy How Infection Occurs HIV lives in body fluid. It is transfered from one person to another during body fluid transfer. It is NOT transmitted through everyday social contact . Touching, hugging, kissing and shaking hands with an HIV positive person does not open the door for infection.
Casual contact is safe.
Neither do insects or pets spread the HIV virus. In medical settings, standard precautionary measures now in place prevent the transmission of HIV when donating blood or receiving a transfusion. Living with a friend or family member with HIV, members of the household should know and practice basic guidelines to avoid unintentional viral transmission. The HIV virus is spread when an infected person's body fluid gets into the bloodstream of another. Body fluids which carry HIV include blood, pre-ejaculate, semen, vaginal secretions, or breastmilk.