I really really want to know, how much of a risk it is to contact HIV through sharing of clippers and the saloon? Please say something guys. Thanks You all.

[s]I was told that the HIV virus can survive on an infected clipper for 2 weeks.[/s] Wrong.

HIV is a fragile virus outside the body. the chance is low but dont let is decieve u. Get ur own clipper

Seriously, I think the risk is very low. You don't go the barbers' to cut your head. You go there to shave your hair.
But to be on the safe side, get your own clipper. It's not expensive.

Not long ago, the former president of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr George Okpagu, asked Nigerian barbers to begin taking more seriously, the idea of sterilizing their clippers in between cutting hairs. He made the suggestion as part of preventive measures that need to be in place to help check the proliferation of the AIDS virus. He was speaking during the WAHL 12th barbing competition organized by J. Green Mbadiwe and Sons Ltd. in collaboration with WAHL clippers USA. Infact, he categorically stated that the disease could be spread, "through barbing or contact with un-sterilized sharp objects"

http://nigeriaworld.com/columnist/uzokwe/060704.html

if you can't get a clipper INSIST that the barber sterilizes his clipper before using it on your hair.

Seun:

It's very high. I was told that the HIV virus can survive on an infected clipper for 2 weeks.

HIV can not survive outside the body for more than a few seconds. If it could survive longer we'll all be in a lot of trouble as you would get infected from toilet seats and other inanimate objects.

HIV can only be transmitted where there is direct contact with/or exchange of bodily fluids.

Please be safe, get your own clipper. We've heard stories about the virus not being able to survive outside the body after a few seconds. That's good news if it is true, however why take the risk.

when you say 'sterilize' the clipper, be clear on what you mean , as strilizing could also be 'boiling' or pressurizing the clipper.

ijebuman:

HIV can not survive outside the body for more than a few seconds. If it could survive longer we'll all be in a lot of trouble as you would get infected from toilet seats and other inanimate objects.

HIV can only be transmitted where there is direct contact with/or exchange of bodily fluids.

Thank you my brother. You hit the nail squarely on the head. But for prevention from other diseases get your own clipper. But yea, the HIV virus cant survive outside the body for more than a few seconds. It is a virus, look it up. I dont know, any biology people in the house here?

Seun, I disagree with you completely. Viruses are not living things but particles that only experince life in another living cell like the human blood. This makes it very impossible for HIV virus to survive out side the human body for two minutes. So the passing rate of the virus trough the clippers is very low. As a matter of fact, the clippers generates heat when being used and no virus survives in a hot environment. If there is any transmission at all through the clippers, it is very very minimal. But to be on the safer side, buy your own clippers.

In summary, in order for infection to occur, three things must happen:

1. You must be exposed to pre-cum, semen, vaginal secretions, blood or breast milk, AND
2. The virus must get directly into your bloodstream through some fresh cut, open sore, abrasion etc., AND
3. Transmission must occur, directly from one person to the other, very quickly (the virus does not survive more than a few minutes outside the body).
http://www.thebody.com/sowadsky/faqs/faq1.html

So I was wrong. Anywaym, this is good news!

aint nobody told y'all that BARBING is not a word

HIV can not survive outside the body for more than a few seconds. If it could survive longer we'll all be in a lot of trouble as you would get infected from toilet seats and other inanimate objects.

HIV can only be transmitted where there is direct contact with/or exchange of bodily fluids.
yes,thats true talk [color=#770077][/color]

Seun:

It's very high. I was told that the HIV virus can survive on an infected clipper for 2 weeks.

Seun, don't say that. HIV cannot survive for up to 24 hours in open air. And having little quantities of HIV in your system (maybe from a razor or sex) does not automatically mean you are going to get the virus. You need to have sufficient quantities for there to be a chance that all the HIV virus will not be killed on its way to rest in organs.

very true, u shud be more concerned about hepatitis. the virus live way longer than the HIV virus.

I already said

In summary, in order for infection to occur, three things must happen:

1. You must be exposed to pre-come, semen, vaginal secretions, blood or breast milk, AND
2. The virus must get directly into your bloodstream through some fresh cut, open sore, abrasion etc., AND
3. Transmission must occur, directly from one person to the other, very quickly (the virus does not survive more than a few minutes outside the body).
http://www.thebody.com/sowadsky/faqs/faq1.html

So I was wrong. Anyway, this is good news!

What part of that don't you understand?

never mind

HIV cant be transmitted thru clippers, its an extremely weak virus!

yeah the HIV virus is relatively week compared to Hepatitis viruses, but we still gotta be careful sharing clippers and ish!

,

get ur own clippers, if even u dnt get HIV u prolly get hair craw craw there

It is advisable for every one to get a clipper. Because, it is so possible to contact HIV through clippers and I know that no matter how you warn or what you the barbers in Nigeria, most of em would still not sterilize the clipper. I mean Sterilize(the use of ointment that kills the hiv virus to clean the clippers). So y'all wanna be on the safe side;go get a personal clipper and take it wif you to the barber's shop.

Why take a gamble with that ?
People contract hepatitis B and C from tatoo needles why not HIV from clippers?
True, its said the virus cant survive outside the body, if want to BELIEVE them, fine.
A wise person wld get a clipper of his own.

@All:
Scientists and researchers all agree that HIV does not survive well outside the human body. The virus is very sensitive to very small changes in temperature and exposure to air. Within seconds to a few minutes of exposure to the environment, HIV would be destroyed and rendered non-infective, making the possibility of transmission through contact with environmental surfaces extremely remote. The only instances where HIV is known to survive for longer periods outside the human body is in tightly controlled laboratory environments and in syringe needles. The reason why HIV survives better in syringe needles is that these needles are hollow and would usually contain a significant amount of the user's blood which will take more time to dry out, hence making it possible for HIV to be transmitted through sharing of needles. Hair clippers, on the other hand, can only be contaminated by little amounts of blood on its cutting surfaces, which once exposed to air would immediately dry out and destroy any contained HIV. Also, the heat generated on the cutting surfaces of the clipper through friction is enough to destroy the virus which, as mentioned earlier, is very sensitive to small temperature changes. Again, sterilizing the clipper in between users reduces the risk of HIV transmission even further.

So, in effect, the risk of transmission of HIV through sharing a hair clipper is quite remote, but to be on the safe side it is advisable to get your own hair clipper and where you cannot afford one, please ensure the clipper is properly sterilized before it's used on you. And please note that there are other blood-borne diseases you should be concerned about, other than HIV, so it's better to be safe than sorry!

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