Viruses taking over your blood

What are blood borne viruses?

Blood borne viruses - called BBVs - are mainly found in blood or bodily fluids. The main BBVs are human immunodeficiency (HIV), hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Why are they important?

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

HIV, the virus which can cause Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), is nearly always transmitted through unprotected vaginal or anal sex, through sharing injecting drug equipment or from mother to baby. There is also a risk from needle stick injuries and from blood transfusions received in resource poor countries. HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids, in particular blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breastmilk. It is not transmitted through casual contact, coughing, sneezing, by sharing a toilet or by using eating utensils, consuming food and beverages handled or prepared by someone with HIV. Therefore somebody living with HIV in your workplace is not a risk to others.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Viruses can cause this by infecting the liver. There are a number of different hepatitis viruses' two of the most common are hepatitis B and C. Hepatitis B and C are easily transmitted through contaminated blood. Most people do not know if they are infected. They may feel OK for many years with a proportion progressing over 20 to 30 years to develop severe liver disease. Some people will however recover completely. A small proportion may develop liver cancer. Hepatitis B is mainly transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breastmilk. Importantly, there is an effective vaccination against hepatitis B. Hepatitis C is mainly transmitted through blood with a low risk of transmission through semen and vaginal fluid. There is no vaccine against hepatitis C.

Who is affected / most at risk from BBVs?

The risk of transmission of BBV depends on a number of factors including:

Frequency and scale of contact with blood and body fluids;
Background, behaviour of different persons/ type of material contact is made with;
Infectious nature of person/ material