Skip to content
WebMD: Better Information. Better Health.
Other search tools:Symptoms|Doctors|Videos

HIV & AIDS Health Center

Font Size
A
A
A

Do Mosquitoes Spread HIV/AIDS?

No. If mosquitoes spread HIV we'd all be infected!

Question:


Is it possible to contract HIV/AIDS from an insect bite like a mosquito or something?

Answer:

Many people think of HIV when they think of mosquitoes because they do suck our blood and move from person to person. Remember that HIV is a fragile virus that dies quickly outside the human body. It requires the fluid it is in to remain liquid for it to stay alive. This wouldn't be the case if it entered a mosquito. As a live bug, the mosquito is different from an IV drug needle, where a small amount of infected blood can be extracted from an infected person, remain unexposed to air or light, and be injected into another person unknowingly if the needle is shared before the blood dries. No digestive juices here.

If mosquitoes spread HIV we'd all be infected!


webMD Video

Show or hide information about video: AIDS Vaccine Trial   AIDS Vaccine Trial

needle and vaccine

Finding a vaccine to prevent aids is a major challenge. HIV is one of the most complicated viruses there is. Here’s one novel way to attack the virus and prevent infection.

Watch Video: AIDS Vaccine Trial (opens in a new window)

Show or hide information about video: HIV Vaccine   HIV Vaccine

Show or hide information about video: Fast HIV Screening   Fast HIV Screening

Show or hide information about video: Microbicides for HIV Protection?   Microbicides for HIV Protection?

Show or hide information about video: HIV Test for Early Detection   HIV Test for Early Detection