04/02/2026
COMMENT ON THE CONTROVERSY RAISED BY A NURSING STUDENT, UPPER NILE UNIVERSITY, FEW DAYS AGO THAT HIV COULD BE TRANSMITTED THROUGH MOSQUITO BITES AND BEDBUGS IN THE HOTELS;
I respectfully disagree with his claim that HIV can be transmitted through mosquito bites or bedbugs in hotels. Scientifically, this is incorrect and not supported by medical evidence.
First, HIV cannot survive or replicate inside insects. Mosquitoes and bedbugs do not inject blood from a previous person into another. When a mosquito bites, it injects saliva not blood. HIV is rapidly destroyed inside the insect’s digestive system and therefore cannot be passed to another human.
Second, HIV transmission requires direct exchange of specific body fluids in sufficient quantity. These fluids include blood, semen, vaginal fluids, re**al fluids, and breast milk. Casual contact, insect bites, sharing beds, or exposure to bedbugs does not meet this requirement.
Scientifically proven modes of HIV transmission include:
1. Unprotected sexual in*******se with an infected person
2. Transfusion of contaminated blood or blood products
3. Sharing contaminated needles or sharp instruments
4. Mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding
5. Occupational exposure through needle-stick injuries involving infected blood
There has never been a documented case of HIV transmission through mosquitoes or bedbugs anywhere in the world. Promoting such misinformation can cause unnecessary fear, stigma, and misunderstanding about HIV.
As students and scholars, we have a responsibility to rely on evidence-based science and public health facts when discussing such sensitive medical issues.
Athiei Abiel Pal
Medical Laboratory Sciences Student
University of Juba