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Six Misconceptions About HIV/AIDS

March 4, 2025
HIV AIDS

Since (RED)’s founding by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006, (RED) has remained committed to fighting injustices that allow pandemics like HIV/AIDS to thrive. To help clarify some myths and fight stigma, we’ve compiled a list of common misconceptions around the virus.

1. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is over

We’ve made incredible strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS, but it is very much still a crisis in many parts of the world. There are still over 39 million people living with HIV globally, and 1.3 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2023. That’s more than 2 people who contract HIV every minute. (2024 UNAIDS Report).

2. HIV is a death sentence

Thanks to incredible advances in medicine and antiretroviral therapy (ARVs), people living with HIV can have long, healthy lives. Through proper treatment, HIV viral loads can drop to undetectable levels, meaning the virus can’t be transmitted to others. Today, over 30.7 million people living with HIV are accessing ARVs that allow them to thrive (2024 UNAIDS Report).

3. HIV can only be spread through unprotected sex

While HIV can certainly spread through unprotected sex, there are other ways to contract the virus, including sharing needles, mother-to-child transmission during childbirth, and breastfeeding.

4. HIV can be spread through casual contact

HIV is not transmitted through hugging, shaking hands, sharing food, toilet seats, or mosquito bites. It spreads through specific bodily fluids (blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breast milk).

5. Only certain populations acquire HIV

HIV affects people of all backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic statuses. While some groups may have higher risks due to factors like access to healthcare and prevention methods, no one is immune.

6. If both sexual partners have HIV, they don’t need to use protection

Different strains of HIV exist, and reinfection with a different strain can make treatment more challenging. Using protection and staying on ARV treatment helps maintain health and prevents complications. Condoms also help protect against other sexually transmitted infections, which can negatively impact the immune system.

Stigma is a significant barrier in the fight to end AIDS and to make sure that everyone, everywhere, has access to the health programs they need. Ending the stigma around HIV/AIDS starts with educating yourself and others about misconceptions surrounding the virus.