HIV is known for over 20 years. At that time HIV in the Netherlands only transmitted through blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal fluid. A screening takes place to ensure that safe blood and organs. Transfer of the HIV virus is only possible if the amount of virus that enters the blood directly is large enough.

If an infected child must incur a cut wound in the usual manner with standard first aid and hygiene measures are discussed. This method is effective in preventing transmission of all blood-borne infections, including HIV.

An infected child at school is no risk to staff or students. As said before: there is no case of HIV transmission at a Dutch school yet. There has never been a reported case of HIV transmission from child to child through biting, fighting, games or any other form of normal handling of children among themselves whatsoever.

Children who are injured or playing with injection material forms a major problem in the transfer of certain blood-borne viruses, but not with HIV. The success of needle exchange programs, the number of new HIV infections among intravenous drug users with low (Health Protection Agency and others, 2004). HIV can not go against oxygen and thus remains outside the body longer than a few minutes alive.

HIV is a sexually transmitted infection. Sexual and relationship education should provide students knowledge and skills which they can protect themselves from infection with the virus through unsafe sex.