(a) whether mosquitoes can spread the dreaded AIDS diseases;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, whether any research work exists about the resistance power of mosquitoes on which a further research is done to develop medicines;
(d) if so, whether sun-rays, atmosphere, heat kills the AIDS germs;
(e) if so, the salient features of studies so far made in this regard; and
(f) if not, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (PROF. RITA VERMA)
(a)to(c): No, Sir. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the causative organism of AIDS multiplies in the CD4T lymphocytes in the blood. In the mosquitoes, this multiplication is not possible and the virus dies in the mosquito body.
(d)to(f): Yes, Sir. Studies carried world wide have shown that the HIV is a very fragile virus. Exposure to sun rays, heat and external environment destroys the virus.