I squashed a mosquito on my hand last week. It had blood in it, and the blood smeared on my hand. I wiped it off, but I was working in the forest and couldn't wash my hand for a couple of hours. I had a few small cuts and nicks on my hand, which, while not bleeding, were not totally healed.

I am now really worried that the mosquito blood may have been blood from someone HIV positive. Am I at risk? Should I seek a blood test for HIV? I've had two blood tests in the last six months, both negative, but this incident has me scared.

Thanks in advance.

The event you described did not put you at risk for HIV. The idea that HIV might be transmitted by the bites of mosquitoes or other insects is an urban myth which has been around for over 30 years. Despite that, there has never been a proven case in which HIV has been transmitted by a mosquito bite. In terms of HIV, this was a no risk event and there is no need for concern or testing. Please don’t worry. EWH

If I may ask one follow up.

It's not so much a mosquito bite I'm worried about.

I killed a mosquito and the blood from its abdomen smeared on my hand, which had some small cuts and nicks.

Is your assessment still the same?

Thanks for the prompt answers, I appreciate it.

The blood carried by the mosquito would not cause HIV infection. Whether this is because of some processing by the mosquito or some other cause is unknown but the scientific conclusion is the same- no risk. Similarly, getting blood that had been carried by a mosquito into cuts and nicks on your skin is not a risk for HIV. No change in my assessment.  This was a no risk event.  Please don’t worry. EWH