HIV is spread in certain ways such as:
- By having sex with someone who has HIV
- By sharing needles or other equipment that has blood on it or in it (i.e. injecting drugs, piercing a body part, tattoos, etc.)
- From a mother who has HIV to her baby-- before or during birth, or after birth through breastfeeding
HIV is not spread by casual contact such as:
- Sitting next to someone
- Shaking hands or giving a hug
- Dry or social kissing
- Eating in a restaurant
- Using restrooms, water coolers or telephones
- Swimming in a pool or using a hot tub
- Being bitten by mosquitoes or other insects
- Donating blood
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