AIDS is supposedly being passed on - in PNGuinea at least - through mothers' breast milk, to their infants

Huh? Through breast milk? Once we were told that the HI Virus was only transmitted by 'blood-to-blood' contact. Yet in PNG - and in 'Africa' it appears this virus is as catchy as the common cold. Moreover, the 'victims' as they are shown in media reports never actually seem to have any of the clinical signs..most look fat, happy and robustly healthy!

HIV is found in most bodily fluids, including breast milk. Unfortunately, most of your information is otherwise inaccurate or out of context.

It has been well-known that "blood-to-blood" contact is not the only way to pass on HIV--in fact, it is probably the least common way. Semen-via-rectum is the highest risk way, semen-via-vagina is not quite as risky. In fact, the chance of getting HIV via needlestick is about 1 in 200, and there are few reported cases yearly (although many people are treated just in case). On the other hand, sexual intercourse is probably riskier--best guess is somewhere around 1 in 50 for an occurence. Oral sex is harder to determine, but there are some probable cases. There has been no known confirmed reports of transmission by kissing or casual contact (even with all the claims of immaculate conception out there!), so the risk is essentially zero. Fetuses are usually not infected in the womb, but vaginal deliveries result in infection in some, so C-section is typically done to prevent this. Obviously, this is rarely an option in 3rd world countries. In the US where C-sections are common, there have been many confirmed cases of infection of babies by breastfeeding. While still not common, breastfeeding is not recommended.

This means, of course, that your statement that HIV in Africa is "as catchy as the common cold" is a gross misstatement of the facts. In fact, I'm not sure why you made such a misstatement.

It's also fairly well known that the time between infection with HIV and developing symptoms of AIDS averages around 5-10 years, and seems to be longer in children for whatever reason. This means that children that are HIV positive can go through their teens or even early adulthood without having any signs or symptoms. As long as they are being fed well, of course they will look "fat, happy and robustly healthy(!)".

In fact, now that I look back at your question, I'm fairly amazed by the amount of misinformation and/or ignorance in your question, and I have to at least take into account the possibility that you are either pushing some type of agenda, or are simply trolling with inflammatory statements.

No you are not able to breast feed if you carry the HIV virus.You can get HIV by sharing any bodily fluids with someone else who carries the disease.

It is possible to transmit the HIV through breastmilk as the virus has been found in almost all bodily fluids like blood, urine, saliva, breastmilk and most probably even in perspiration and tears. The virus is probably getting stronger and mutating that it can penetrate in every cell unlike when it was first discovered.

HIV is most certainly spread through breastfeeding! There are many ways to catch HIV, not just through blood. HIV can be caught via unprotected vaginal, anal and (possibly) oral sex, via dirty needles and other forms of blood-borne contact, breastfeeding and other body fluid contact. However, it cannot be caught by kissing, hugging, sharing facilities or any other casual contact.

I'm HIV+ and I'm also look fat, happy and robustly healthy.

Tell me, am I a "victim"? I was raped and contracted HIV. Please enlighten me.

Contact with all body fluids can give you HIV.

And those kids look fat because there stomachs swell due to starvation.