Barebacking with HIV

Are you HIV+ or dating someone with HIV? You've probably heard of a recent Swiss study that asserted that "people with undectable viral loads are sexually non-infectious." Turns out that isn't the case.

Here's the Reuters article:

People with HIV on effective antiretroviral therapy should not stop using condoms. In fact, HIV infections could quadruple if those responding well to antiretrovirals stopped using condoms, said Australian researchers. Their findings rebut a report earlier this year, made by the Swiss Federal Commission for HIV/AIDS.

Even if the risk of HIV transmission for a single sexual contact is fairly small, it is not zero, and the risk from exposure becomes substantial over large numbers of sexual contacts, the Australian study found. The researchers' risk assessment was based on mathematical models of 10,000 serodiscordant couples having 100 unprotected sexual contacts per year over a decade.

"The expected number of HIV infections would be 3,524 for male-to-male transmission, corresponding to an increase in incidence of four times compared with incidence under current rates of condom use," said the study.

"When the viral load goes down in the blood due to antiretrovirals, it might not go down in the semen or vaginal and anal fluids," said Australasian Society for HIV Medicine President Jonathan Anderson, who was not involved in the research. "Antiretrovirals can complement consistent condom use, but replacing condom use with medications may end in disaster."

HIV Rates in Utah Up 32%

The Deseret News reports:

HIV diagnoses in Utah were up 32 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year, with the majority of cases in Salt Lake City.

"This is what's considered the third wave of the epidemic. People have become complacent," said Beltran. "They're not seeing people die from AIDS because medications are more effective in staving it off, so the fear factor is no longer present. And people are sick of hearing about" HIV/AIDS prevention methods, such as condom use, she said.

Here's the Tribune's take:

A 32 percent spike in Utah's HIV rate this year compared with the same period last year has prompted the Utah AIDS Foundation to forgo federal HIV prevention funds so that it can create a more upfront campaign targeting gay men.

The department has rejected some sexually suggestive ads aimed at gay men, who comprise the majority of HIV cases in the state. Of the 25 new HIV cases in the first quarter of 2008, 83 percent were among gay men. Younger men ages 20-30 are at high risk and represented the majority of infections in 2007.

UAF rejected this year's grant of $87,000 and is asking donors to cover the cost of its new campaign that aims to normalize condom use, "Unleash the Power of the 'C.'" A focus group of gay men held Thursday applauded the approach, said Penfold.

The Utah AIDS Foundation attributes the jump to:

1. Improvements in anti-retroviral drugs that have extended the lives of the
   infected but also lead youth to falsely believe the disease is
   curable.
2. Young men who grew up after the 1980s AIDS
   epidemic think of AIDS as a problem in Africa, not America.
3. The use of methamphetamine and alcohol that contribute to risky
   behavior.

Your thoughts?

Village Pride Activities

Wanna get Lei'd? Village and Utah AIDS Foundation volunteers will be out in force at Pride, handing out lei's attached to condom packets and encouraging festival goers to visit our Marriage Booth and HIV Testing Booth. See you there!

Click here for info on Pride.

Abstinence...The Condom!