Transmission Through Drinks

HIV...
Hepatitis B virus is spread or acquired through exposure to infected blood or the body's secretions. The highest concentrations of hepatitis B virus are found in the blood, semen, vaginal discharge, breast milk, and saliva. There are only low concentrations of hepatitis B virus in the urine and none in the feces. Therefore, hepatitis B is not spread through food or water or by casual contact. Furthermore, hepatitis B virus is no longer transmitted by blood transfusions because all blood for transfusion is screened (tested) to exclude contamination with hepatitis B virus.

In the U.S., adolescents and young adults account for the majority of reported cases of hepatitis B infection. Sexual contact (intercourse) is the most common means of transmission. The virus also can be spread by hepatitis B virus-contaminated blood or body fluid in several different ways. These ways include intravenous drug use, skin-popping (injecting under the skin), tattooing, body piercing, and acupuncture using unsterile instruments. Additionally, hepatitis B virus can be transmitted through the sharing of toothbrushes and razors. Finally, blood-sucking insects such as mosquitoes and bed bugs in the tropics have reportedly spread hepatitis B virus.

Last (but not least), hepatitis B virus can be spread from infected mothers to their babies at the time of birth (so-called vertical transmission). This is the most important means of transmission in regions where the hepatitis B viral infection is always present (endemic), such as in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The rate of transmission of hepatitis B virus to the newborn of highly infectious mothers is very high, approaching 100%. Moreover, as indicated earlier, almost all of these infants will develop chronic hepatitis B viral infection.