Unfair criminalization as a threat to epidemic safety
This article aims to raise awareness and stimulate serious discussion of the negative impact of criminal law regulation on the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted diseases.
The role of HIV viral suppression in improving individual health and reducing transmission
This policy brief describes key HIV viral load thresholds and the available viral load testing approaches for monitoring how well antiretroviral therapy is working for people living with HIV.
Key messages include:
- HIV viral suppression is critical to improve health, prevent sexual transmission, and reduce perinatal transmission.
- There are three key categories for HIV viral load measurements: unsuppressed (>1000 copies/mL), suppressed (detected but ≤1000 copies/mL) and undetectable (viral load not detected by test used).
- People living with HIV who have an undetectable viral load using any WHO-prequalified combination of sample and testing platform, including dried blood spot samples, and continue taking medication as prescribed have zero risk of transmitting HIV to their sexual partner(s).
- People living with HIV who have a suppressed but detectable viral load and are taking medication as prescribed have almost zero or negligible risk of transmitting HIV to their sexual partner(s).
Comparative Sentencing Chart on HIV Criminalization in the United States
This chart, published by the Center for HIV Law and Policy in 2012, compares U.S. legislation on sentencing for HIV exposure, non-disclosure, and transmission with laws punishing drinking and driving, reckless endangerment of others, and vehicular homicide, showing HIV exposure frequently carries far higher sentences than more dangerous crimes.