???AIDs from water???

Might just be an ignoramus, but I've just been told, from a good source, that AIDs infected blood put in water and later drank by someone with sores in the mouth can transmit this virus.

I'm sure the virus could not be replicated in the water because their is nothing to replicate it with. i.e no living tissue.

But is it possible for this virus to survive in the blood or by itself in the water.
Even if the chance is very remote I would like to know about it.

This page at the CDC:

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts/transmission.htm

states that [color:"blue"] "no scientific evidence to support any of these fears has been found. If HIV were being transmitted through other routes (such as through air, water, or insects)," [/color]

Chris

HIV is not a very hardy virus, viruses such HBV and HBC (Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Viruses) are more more stable in the environment. HIV is easily destroyed by desiccation (drying out, of course in this scenario, drying out is not relevant), solar radiation and standard water treatment methods. Dilution is another factor in the transmission of any infectious disease, there must be a certain exposure with enough of the agent to overcome the body's natural defenses and set up shop so to speak, before an established infection can occur. If HIV contaminated blood entered a pond or lake both the effects of solar radiation (inactivate the virus) and the dilution factor would reduce the viral load to less than an infective dose, so there is no need to worry. Now, if you were to take 10cc of blood directly from an HIV infected person, who was virimic (high numbers of virus particles in the blood) mix it with 10cc of water and drink it, with open sores in your mouth, then yes, you might run the risk of contacting an HIV infection. But under all conditions that I can imagine, regular drinking water is safe and of no threat, with respects to acquiring an HIV infection. Obviously there are other organisms that are of much more concern. Pete