issue 09 / volume 41

Stop HIV & hep C now

» MMA vs. HIV, HBV, and HCV: the blood battle

Andrea Arscott
Senior Columnist

e all know fighting is

dangerous, yet people
still do it. Since attackers are
willing to risk their lives in

of spreading or contracting HIV : mixed martial arts (MMA)

as well as hepatitis B and C is
only a minor concern, if it even
crosses their minds. Although
the risk of getting HIV from
fighting is lower because the
virus dies when it’s exposed

to air, there’s still a risk.
AIDSMap.com explains, “The
small number of case reports

documenting HIV transmission : blood into another fighter’s

via this route [fighting]
involved a significant amount
of blood from the HIV-positive
person, as well as large open
wounds in the other person’s
skin.”

Hep B, on the other hand,

: to-blood. Most people get the

: vaccine for hep B when they

: get a series of Twinrix shots,

: but there’s currently no vaccine
: for hep C. So, when it comes

: to fighting, hep B and C are

: the more likely blood-borne

: illnesses to be transmitted.
street fights, maybe the thought :

In sports fighting, like

: in Ultimate Fighting
: Championship (UFC),
: opponents battle it out with

: despite the fact that they may
: be dripping or oozing blood.

: Ifa trained fighter is unaware

: that they’re positive for HIV or
: hep B or C, and they get their

: bloodstream (through cuts and

: on to their opponent. MMA-

: and UFC-style fighting involves
: grappling and bear hugging,

: which could lead to rubbing

: open wounds together and

: blood tests are taken within a

: year prior to a fight. A year is

: along time to go untested, if

: the fighter is a risk-taker. Many
: fighters are young and in top

: physical shape, so it’s likely

: they have sex. Ifan opponent is
: responsible and practices safe

: sex by using condoms, there’s

: an even smaller chance of

passing HIV on during a match.

However; if a pro fighter

is also an adrenaline junkie,
: fistfights and wrestle each other :
: behaviour: sharing needles

: and other equipment needed

: for drug injection or steroid

: use, sharing straws and bills

: to snort cocaine, sharing crack
: pipes, and using unsterilized

: : tattoo/piercing equipment and
: sores), they could pass the virus :
: lead to hep B and C, if they’re
: contaminated. Although there’s :
: onlya slim chance of acquiring
: HIV through most of these

: activities, sharing needles isa

he may enjoy other daring

ink. Sharing these items can

can live outside the body for : exchanging blood. : concern because HIV can live
at least seven days,andhepC  : You may be shaking your _: in the barrel of a syringe for
can survive on surfaces for up head right now thinking, approximately a month.

to six weeks. Hep B is passed : “That’s why competitors Unless fighters who engage

on through semen, vaginal
fluids, and blood; hep C is
only transferred from blood-

: get tested.” But guess what?
: According to mmabc.ca,
: regulation rules require that

in these activities get tested
: more often than once a year
: (two to four times per year

would be ideal), they might not
: know they have a blood-borne
; illness or that they’re putting

: opponents at risk by competing.

There’s also a three-month

: window period to consider
: when testing for HIV. Most
: people will test positive for HIV :
: a month after the exposure,
: but some may take up to three
: months before they can say

: they’re in the clear.

So, if you're going to pick a

: fight with an illness as tough as

life & style // 17

 

: HIVor hep B or C, know your

: status and protect yourself and
: others. Stop HIV and hep B and
: Cnow.

: The Purpose Society testing
: clinic at 40 Begbie Street in

: New Westminster will be

providing anonymous and

: rapid HIV testing and STI and

: hepatitis testing on February 5.

: It also provides vaccines, free

: harm reduction supplies, and

: condoms! You can also get your

: questions answered by emailing
: sexyquestions@purposesociety.org

 

 

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