A breakthrough study among gay couples has found that anti-retroviral drugs taken by HIV-infected partners to suppress the virus to undetectable levels could also prevent sexual transmission of the disease to their HIV-negative counterparts.
The study, published in the Lancet medical journal, enrolled close to 1000 gay couples over a period of seven years. The rate of HIV transmission was found to be zero despite the couples engaging in sex without condoms over a total of 76088 times. While 15 cases of HIV were detected, the cause was found to be sex with someone other than the partner who was on medication.
Studies in the past have focused on the risk of HIV transmission among heterosexual couples. The current research adds to past work in the area and finds similar results in gay couples, reinforcing the ‘undetectable equals untransmittable’ campaign.
According to Alison Rodger, professor at University College London and co-author of the research,
Our findings provide conclusive evidence for gay men that the risk of HIV transmission with suppressive ART (antiretroviral therapy) is zero. Our findings support the message of the international U-U campaign, that an undetectable viral load makes HIV untransmittable.
She added, “This powerful message can help end the HIV pandemic by preventing HIV transmission, and tackling the stigma and discrimination that many people with HIV face.
A UNICEF report estimated that1,20,000 children and adolescents aged 0-19 were living with HIV in India in 2017, the highest number in South Asia , followed by Pakistan’s 5,800, Nepal’s 1600 and Bangladesh’s less than 1000.
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