Question:

Someone spit on my garbage can at work and I moved my can and put my hand in it. When I realized what it was, I wiped off my hand and washed my hands and used hand sanitizer. If,(and I know it’s probably a remote possibility) this person had HIV or something, do I have a chance of getting it this way or am I being paranoid? Thanks.

Answer:

HIV is transmitted principally by exposure to blood or during sexual encounters. The risk of acquiring HIV from saliva is exceptionally small and non-existent if your hands did not have major cuts in them.

For more information:

Go to the HIV and AIDS health topic.