Small finger cut and dip in election ink

[Wso22]

I am curious if I can get HIV or other disease by the following scenario:

A few days ago I went to vote for my country commune election. After voting, m required to dip my index finger in the election ink bottle to identify that I already voted. After the voting I realized that my index finger has the small cut( like skin peel off ur index finger and present a small cut app 2mm x 1mm). Because my finger already cover with the ink I cannot see clearly if the cut already formed the scab to protect the open and m not sure when did I get that.

1. My question is if the people who went to vote before me has some sorts of disease, in particularly HIV, and they drop some blood in the election ink bottle, am I at risk of contracting HIV when I dipped my index finger in that bottle? I went to soak my finger in that bottle about 10 seconds apart from the person before me.

2. Before, I soaked my finger in the bottle, the guy at the desk wipe my index finger with a wet cloth, and that same wet cloth he used to wipe every voters before me too. If the voters before me have an open wound and that wet cloth contract with some of the blood, am i at risk of getting HIV when i got wiped with the wet cloth?

3. Does election ink contain any chemical that kill HIV viruses?

My anxiety is killing me.... I would be much appreciated if you can spare some of your valuable time to provide me with some answer and explanation.

Thank you very much

[Andy Velez]

There is not an iota of risk for HIV in what you are worrying about. It is absolutely not passed in the manner you're concerned about nor in any other environmental situations such as doorknobs, barbershop nicks, food, liquids, kissing and other ordinary elements of life.

Sexually the only confirmed risks for HIV transmission are unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse.

Our focus here is strictly on HIV. But I don't see any cause for concern about acquiring any diseases from dipping your finger into ink.

Read our lesson on HIV transmission in order to become better acquainted with the basics.

[Wso22]

Thank for ur reply Andy,

Can you clarify me on the following matter?
I have seen some information state that if you have an open wound and come into contact with HIV infected fluid, you could possible be infected. In my case, what if the election ink was contaminated by HIV infected blood, and with my finger cut, can the HIV virus find its way into my bloodstream?

Some people say that the HIV virus is diluted when it mix with water. What do they mean by this? And how much water need to dilute the HIV virus? Is 10ml of election ink enough to dilute a few drop of blood?

Thank you for your patient.

[Ann]

wso,

Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus that is primarily transmitted INSIDE the human body, as in unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse where the virus never leaves the confines of the two bodies. Once outside the body, small changes in temperature, and pH and moisture levels all quickly damage the virus and render it unable to infect.

For this reason, hiv cannot infect you once it is outside the body and on environmental objects like doorknobs. It also cannot infect once it's outside the body and IN environmental objects like ink or food.

The only way you're going to become infected with hiv while voting is if you have unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse in the polling booth.

Ann

[Wso22]

Thank you for the replies.

As a man I have never done anything guilty (intercourse). And m really afraid of contracting HIV.

Next week, I will marry my long time childhood girlfriend, and these past days I have been very anxious that I might contract HIV by the situation I described above, and possibly past it on to her after our marriage. Before the incidence, I describe above we both tested for all STDs, and the results all come negative.

 do u think is it alright for me not to test for this incidence? And have relationship with her without any protection?
I really love her so much.

Thank you for ur kinda help with this young man.

[Andy Velez]

From what you have reported of your sexual activities I don't see any cause for concern as you move forward towards marriage. You can't pass along a virus you don't have and there's nothing you have done which put you at risk for HIV.

Stop worrying and get on with your life.