My common worries regarding AIDS:

1) people smacking mosquitos and then seeing some blood as a result. It sends my off into a later panic attack. I have read that a full mosquito's stomach digests and kills AIDS in 1-2 days, but I NEVER bet that when I see such events that that mosquito already had digested its blood meal sufficiently.

2) people's nosebleeds, cuts on hands when I see it.

I am hoping you may have information or know where I might obtain information regarding the realistic lifecyle of the AIDS virus while outside the body (exposure to air).

I realize Chlorine KILLS AIDS, but I can't bring Chlorine around with me. The only information I have heard/read from reputable sources is that AIDS dies quickly to air exposure. Further, that when blood is visibly DRY that AIDS is dead.

This doesn't totally help me because there are times I see minor un-covered cuts on a hand or face of a waiter/waitress, it is difficult to tell whether or not, their blood has dried as it is still red in color and not brown-ish.

Is there any practical data, facts that confirm generally how long AIDs will surive when exposed to air? How much blood am I talking about? Like a smacked, crushed mosquito or small cut etc. 1-10 cc's? Or is current research still giving very general time frames?

Also IF exposed to wet HIV positive blood -helping a person in an accident- is washing one's hands with regular soap once suffice?

Can micro-scopic viral units still possibly remain on your skin after only one wash with common soap?<--- I was actually told this by a nurse, who came to my old high school to educate us on AIDS prevention and data.

Thank you for your time !

You cannot get HIV infection from casual exposure like those you are describing. Mosquitoes do not transmit HIV. Minor cuts cannot transmit HIV to you if you have unbroken skin. HIV is only transmitted by very intimate contact, such as sex or injection of infected blood.