Aids Myth: As soon as I receive treatment, I can't spread the HIV Virus
Although most HIV treatments work very well, and even reduce the amount of the virus in the blood to such low levels that they don't even show up on blood tests, individuals will still have the virus hiding in other regions of the body. Therefore, it is absolutely imperative that those who are carriers of the virus practice safe sex in order to not transmit it to others, even if they are in treatment.
Breaking news reports that a study done in June of 2007 followed 2,499 men and women who were considered a high-risk group for contracting HIV were given a combination anti-viral drug called Truvada.
Those who took the medication half of the time showed a 50% less chance of contracting the virus; others who took the drug 90% of the time showed up to a 73% less of a chance contracting it.
This new study gives way to a more promising outcome concerning "prevention", but more research needs to be done to conclude that it can work for all individuals, as some may be infected with drug resistant strains of the virus.
There is still a lot of research going into developing an HIV vaccine that will serve as a preventive measure that will stop the transmission of the virus. The vaccine could also serve to therapeutically prevent or post pone the illness in those who are carriers, which would also reduce the risk of transmission.
The basic concept that stands behind all prospective HIV vaccinations is to increase the functionality of the immune system to fight the virus itself by prompting the body to produce more anti-bodies that can create a barrier to prevent HIV from entering into the body system.
If this vaccine can be proven to be safe and effective for both carriers and non-carriers concerning transmission, it may be possible that once a person has received this treatment that they would not be able to transmit HIV.
However, it may be another decade or more before one vaccine can be made for all individuals who are infected or are seeking a safe method of sexual contact that will prevent them from getting the virus. The current prevention measures are to use condoms, abstinence, or to not share contaminated needles.
Until there is an effective vaccine or anti-viral drug therapy that stops transmission of HIV, completely, the only way a person can protect others from transmission is to practice safe-sex and to not share IV needles.
By just undergoing anti-viral therapy will not safely guarantee that an infected individual wont infect others with HIV. Today, statistics show that 34 million people are infected with HIV worldwide, and while many treatments that are offered can pro-long the lives of people who are carriers, there is no available drug therapy or vaccine that will stop transmission.