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Swiss PLHIV support Swiss declaration |
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Monday, 01 September 2008 |
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The Swiss network of people living with HIV, LHIVE, has published a
manifesto, supporting the Swiss declaration on the
non-infectiousness of people living with HIV. In January 2008 the Swiss Federal HIV/AIDS
Committee (EKAF) published research in the journal “Schweizerische Ärztezeitung” , stating that “An
HIV-infected individual without additional STD and on an
anti-retroviral therapy (ART) with completely suppressed viremia (in
the following: “effective ART”) is sexually non-infectious."
According to the Swiss researchers, a person living with HIV does not pass on HIV through sexual contact as long as:
- The HIV-positive individual complies
with the anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and the effects of this
treatment are evaluated regularly by the treating physician;
- The viral load (VL) has been non-detectable since at least six months (i.e. viremia is suppressed);
- There are no additional sexually transmitted infections (STI) present.
The decision to publish the research has been controversial. Doctors,
prevention workers, and people living with HIV are divided on whether
it is wise to widely publish research as many are afraid it will be detrimental to existing prevention messages.
In their Manifesto, the Swiss network of people living with HIV, LHIVE,
states that any
discussions of the impact of the EKAF declaration on HIV prevention
should be objective and evidence-based and that attempts to stop
information or
discussion for moral, political, or
other non-factual reasons is unacceptable. Individual HIV prevention
measures and the
related transmission risks should be assessed strictly by equal
scientific
standards.
Click here to read and support the Manifesto.
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