According to a recent survey, roughly a third of people in Britain are convinced you can contract HIV by using the toothbrush of an infected person.
The study by YouGov also suggests one in 10 people think you can catch HIV by a hairdresser’s scissors, which… we’d never heard that particularly myth before.
The findings were released on December 1st as part of World AIDS Day to demonstrate that “inaccurate myths” are still very much entrenched in society in 2016.
Related: “How To Survive A Plague,” And 9 Documentary Films To Commemorate World AIDS Day
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The Irish Times reports the campaign was backed by actor Stephen Fry to inspire people to wear red ribbons to spread awareness.
“We saw our friends, lovers and families die,” he said, “and a generation of friends were lost and bright, beautiful lights were snuffed out before their time. As a community, we are still recovering from that awful time. But World AIDS Day gives us all a chance to reflect and come together to celebrate the real progress that has been made.”
Other findings: 58s percent of Britons are aware that people with HIV can live into old age, but less than 29 percent are aware that people being effectively treated can have children without passing on the virus.
Related: How One Gay Man Survived AIDS For Four Decades And Lived To Tell His Story
Ian Green, chief executive of the charity, tells the Irish Times:
We’ve come a long way since the AIDS crisis first emerged, when the nation was gripped by panic and fear. But it’s not over. While science has moved on, we can see today that inaccurate myths from the 1980s are still deeply entrenched in society, both in terms of how HIV is transmitted, and what it’s like to live with HIV.
Misunderstanding of the virus can fuel stigma and cause immense distress for people coming to terms with an HIV diagnosis.”
“I wear my red ribbon as a way of remembering all those we lost,” said Fry. “We must never forget, and never give up the fight against HIV.”
The survey was carried out in October.
Masc Pride
You still should never share a toothbrush with anyone because it’s, well, gross. You can also totally get gingivitis if the other person has it.
Heywood Jablowme
@Masc Pride: Agree. That seems like a very weird example of supposed HIV “ignorance” which even though it IS technically true, I’ll let pass. Who shares a toothbrush anyway?
No surprise this is in Britain – they’re very uneducated about TEETH in general!
dwes09
@Masc Pride: If you have good dental hygiene (floss, brush and use a rinse daily) you have about as much chance of catching gingivitis from kissing, sharing a glass or eating utensil as you do from sharing a toothbrush.
The genesis and transmission of gum disease is not as simple as such things as the flu or a cold. In many cases the bacteria responsible for gum disease are already present, but proper dental hygiene keeps them from causing infection.
We all think sharing a toothbrush is gross, but objectively it is no more gross than deep kissing.
ErikO
No you can’t get HIV but you can get Hepatitis C from sharing a toothbrush.
Heywood Jablowme
Is there a severe shortage of toothbrushes in the U.K.? That just seems like a really weird question to focus on, or even to think up in the first place. Who shares toothbrushes anyway?