Myth—“You can get HIV from breathing the air around an HIV-infected person or from hugging or holding hands with an HIV-infected person.” (Female, age 19)

Fact— HIV cannot be transmitted from breathing the air around an HIV-infected person, or from hugging or holding hands from an HIV-infected person. HIV is transmitted through contact with an HIV-positive person’s bodily fluids, such as semen, pre-ejaculatory fluid, vaginal fluids, blood, or breast milk. HIV can also be transmitted through needles contaminated with HIV-infected blood, including needles used for injecting drugs, tattooing or body piercing.