Question

AIDs virus cannot be transmitted by
A) Sharing needles and syringes
B) Hugs and handshakes
C) Sexual contact
D) Blood transfusion

Answer 1

Hint: AIDs stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is a retroviral disease that is transmitted through body fluids. The disease directly affects the immune system as a result of which the person’s ability to fight against infection reduces.

Complete answer:
HIV or human immune virus is the chief retrovirus that is responsible for spreading or causing AIDS. It only affects humans. HIV is an RNA virus that is transmitted through blood and other body fluids like semen, breast milk etc. Once the virus enters a human host, it starts its reproductive cycle and enters the genome of the human host where it multiplies and makes copies of the viral genome. This disease weakens the immune system due to which the person infected dies after some time.

The major causes of HIV transmission are-
- Sharing infected needles and syringes and transfusion of infected blood.
- HIV can be caused if the person receives the infected semen through sexual contact or by any other means.

As the virus cannot survive without the human host it does not spread through hugs and handshakes, mosquito bites, tears and saliva, sharing dishes and toilets, through the air or by any sexual activity which does not involve the exchange of body fluids.

Thus, the correct answer is option ‘B’.

Note: The transmission of the virus can be checked by using condoms during sexual intercourse. The use of disposable needles and syringes can also check the transmission of the virus. The blood should be checked for the virus before transfusion. Retroviral drugs are useful in treating AIDs to some extent.