Can Fly’s Transmit HIV?

In the past, it has been debated as to whether flies could transmit HIV, but a new report in the British medical journal Lancet has raised the question once again. The findings could make scientists rethink the origin of the HIV pandemic, as a stable fly has been found to regurgitate the virus. The researchers, from the University of Alabama and the Institute for Population Research in Berlin, Germany, say the finding could have far-reaching implications.

The truth is that flies can’t transmit HIV mechanically, but they can in fact transmit the virus to humans through their bites. This happens when an insect begins to feed on a HIV-positive person and then is interrupted for some reason. This may lead the insect to migrate to an uninfected person in order to complete the meal. In the meantime, the bug can transfer fresh blood that is still on its mouthparts or regurgitate previously eaten blood.

While it is possible for a mosquito to transmit HIV to you, this is unlikely to happen unless the mosquito is carrying enough HIV-positive blood. It is also unlikely that a single mosquito can transmit the virus to a single person. Even if it were possible, the mosquito would have to carry a massive number of human/primate T-cells to infect a person.

Because HIV is so fragile, it cannot survive long outside of the body. It needs to be in the body to survive, and the conditions of the fluid are vital for the virus to survive. Fortunately, there are several simple ways to reduce your risk of getting HIV.

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