Such a silly thought!

[mpositive]

I cannot believe I let this thought into my mind, then I actually started to laugh at myself.  I was sitting in my office yesterday and some folks were complaining that they were getting bit by some kind of insects.  So, I had two thoughts.....

I wasn't getting bit, maybe the insects know better....lol.  Maybe they can smell the HIV on me aye? 

Second thought, what if I got bit and then the bugger goes to someone else, could they get it from me?

Again, both ridiculous thoughts, but, I figured I would share where my silly mind went yesterday.

M

[Ann]

M,

No, insects cannot transmit hiv to other people if they've bitten a pozzie. You'll only infect your workmates if you have unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse with them.

Some people are just lucky in that insects don't seem to bite them. People who take B-vitamin supplements tend to turn insects off, and so do people who eat plenty of garlic. So, it seems to be a diet-related thing. Not virus related.

Ann

[mpositive]

Ann, you realize that I knew this but was just commenting on the thought process .... how bizarre that my mind even went there.  I just felt it was sorta "funny" and wanted to share.

[Ann]

Ann, you realize that I knew this ...

Well, that's a relief!   

[sdguyloveslife]

M-

Thanks for sharing! 

What I find interesting about what you wrote is that "we" forum members get the benefit of knowing that a bugbite cannot transmit HIV - because of the vast knowledge presented to us on resources like this - but the fact of the matter is that a lot of people don't know and think they really can be infected through a bugbite. 

I'd bet if you asked your coworkers, many of them would think that transmission via bugbites is possible.  That's not saying anything bad about your coworkers - but more a comment on the lack of knowledge and fear-based misinformation that's still out there about HIV.

-R

[fearless]

People who take B-vitamin supplements tend to turn insects off, and so do people who eat plenty of garlic. So, it seems to be a diet-related thing. Not virus related.

Ann

Do you have any peer reviewed scientific studies to back up these claims, Ann. Just asking... 

[Ann]

Do you have any peer reviewed scientific studies to back up these claims, Ann. Just asking... 

Nope, not a one. It's just what I've observed over the years. Hence my use of the word seems. 

Ann
(who can behave rather unseemingly at times.)

[mpositive]

I have heard the Garlic part for many years now, but not the B Supplements.  however, it just so happens, I take a B100 Complex daily, so who knows, that may very well be the reason. 

[positivmat]

The only thing that has changed in my diet is atripla. It has occurred to me during this very rainy spring and summer in the Northeast that the skeeters don't like the atripla in my blood now. But I thought it could have been the HIV too. I used to be a favorite of the mosquitoes. Not this year. I dunno.
Matt