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HIV cycle after leaving its host

First of all, I want to clarify that I know HIV can't infect anyone after exposed to the environment. I've been reading this forum for many years.

My question is very simple: which event comes first? The loss of infectiousness, or its death?

In other words, does the virus need to die in order to become unable to infect?
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3191940 tn?1447268717
COMMUNITY LEADER
Viruses are not "alive," so it isn't possible for them to die.  Viruses are either infectious or non-infectious.  There is no "which comes first" in this scenario.
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3 Comments
So do they continue to "exist" outside human body (in a non-infectious state) indefinitely?
This is an HIV prevention forum and your question is not relevant to the spread or prevention of HIV.
I've seen many questions way less relevant than mine throughout the years, but thanks for the kind words.
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