For nearly two decades, scientists have recognized that the viral load is a key determinant of HIV transmission. In other words, people living with HIV cannot pass HIV through sex when they have undetectable levels of HIV. This vital prevention method is estimated to be 100% effective as long as the person living with HIV takes their medication as prescribed and gets and stays undetectable. This concept known as Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U).

‘Undetectable = Untransmittable’ (U=U) became an important campaign explaining how the sexual transmission of HIV can be stopped. When a person is living with HIV and is on effective treatment, it lowers the level of HIV (the viral load) in the blood. When the levels are extremely low (below 200 copies/ml of blood measured) it is referred to as an undetectable viral load. This is also medically known as virally suppressed. At this stage, HIV cannot be passed on sexually. In fact, when a person is undetectable, condoms are not required to prevent HIV transmission.

What is most important to know is U=U applies to transmission through sex only. The risks of transmission through other routes, including breastfeeding and sharing needles does not prevent transmission of the HIV virus via the U=U prevention strategy.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more than 1.1 million people in the U.S. living with HIV, and approximately 40,000 new diagnoses each year. The virus continues to disproportionately affect members of the LGBTQ community, especially LGBTQ communities of color, particularly cisgender Black and Latino
gay and bisexual men, transgender women and Black women.

HIV FACTS:
✚ 9 out of 10 new diagnoses are from sexual contact
✚ 7% of new diagnoses result from injection drug use
✚ 80% of new diagnoses in men are from sex with
other men
✚ HIV can only be transmitted through bodily fluids like
semen and blood
✚ According to the CDC, condoms are 63-80%, PrEP
is ~99% and U=U is 100% effective at preventing HIV.

Important!

U=U must be widely communicated in a clear, consistent and accurate manner to greatly improve the lives of people with HIV and bring us closer to ending the epidemic.

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