U=u : Reminder Of Positive News About Hiv Positive People

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How U=U Empowers HIV‑Positive People with Undetectable Viral Loads

U=U : Reminder of Positive News about HIV positive people

02 Dec, 2020

1^st of December every year since 1988 is observed as World AIDS day internationally. We are fighting Covid pandemic however the AIDS pandemic is not yet over too. This year theme is “Global solidarity,shared responsibility” which re-emphasise the global responsibility to fight against this disease. Please note fight is against the disease and not with people living with HIV. The stigma should end. One of the most important reason for this stigma is catching the virus through contact with people living with HIV.HIV can be passed sexually, by using shared infected needles,blood and from mother to child (during pregnancy,labour,breastfeeding). Sweat and saliva doesn’t transmit it so unlike the Corona virus it is not passed by shaking hands,kissing or through respiratory droplet.

Now the positive news which one must remember is about U=U which stands for UNDETECTABLE=UNTRANSMITTABLE. This simply means that if the HIV virus is suppressed effectively with well adhered ART(anti-retroviral treatment) that it is undetectable by laboratory tests then there is zero risk of transmission of the HIV virus through sexual contact. There are 4 major trials which prove this as a fact. These are PARTNER (2016), HTPN052 (2016), Opposites attract (2018) and PARTNER 2 (2018). These trials demonstrated that Serodiscordant couples had zero risk of acquiring HIV through unprotected sexual intercourse.The PARTNER 1 trial also included gay couples and PARTNER 2 solely had 1000 gay couples.

HIV positive people on effective stable ART regimen with good compliance with undetectable viral load for 6 months in blood have zero transmission sexually( vaginal, anal, or oral) as the concentration in sexual body fluids is too low to carry infection. Hence treatment is prevention as many HIV experts call it.

With the advances in ART maintaining HIV positive people with undetectable viral load is a reality. Access and compliance to ART is essential. People living with HIV can have healthy lives and healthy relationships with ART. However challenges in diagnosis and access to comprehensive HIV care is a far fetched dream for many.

References:

CDC

UNAIDS

WHO