chguest@pioneer.arc.nasa.gov (CJG) (10/16/89)
I have been doing a fair amount of reading lately on HIV and
AIDS. After having digested all of this information I find
myself left with two major questions.
1) How long can the virus remain viable outside of the human body.
and
2) If it can indeed survive outside of the body then how likely
is the infection of an otherwise 'nonrisk' person who comes
into contact with it.
Background:
Question One:
The CDC, several books, and some AIDS information phone
information lines claim that the virus is inactivated within
'a few seconds' or 'a couple of minutes' when it is expelled
from the body. They point to research done on families where
there were negligable outside risk factors where some of the
family members shared toothbrushes or other utensils.
On the other hand two books, one information line, and
two of the medical professionals we spoke to contend that this is
not the case. These people say that it can survive for between
twenty minutes, and 14+ DAYS outside of the human host. They point
to an article in JAMA from 1985, a study by the Pasteur Institute,
and cases of hemopheliacs being given freeze dried, (later re-hydrated),
blood products who came down with an HIV positive result.
Question Two:
If one accepts the theory that the virus can indeed live outside
of the body, then one must ask the followup question of how likely
it might be for a person who comes into contact with the virus to
become infected. This might happen in many ways including touching an
object that has HIV virii on it with a cut hand/extremety, rubbing ones
eyes or picking ones teeth with virii picked up on the hands, or
accidental genital contact with a toilet bowl.
Any insight into how to answer the above questions would be
greatly appreciated.
CJG
+ *READ* ---> The opinions expressed above are to the best of my knowledge, +
+ however all options should be discussed with persons who have professional+
+ training with the subjects covered here. * ALL POSSIBLE DISCLAIMERS APPLY!+
+ ____FROM: chguest@pioneer.arc.nasa.gov =>or<= sun!ames!pioneer!chguest____+