LONDON (Reuters)-
A European study of nearly 1,000 gay male couples without condoms-one of whom is living with HIV and is taking antiretroviral drugs to curb HIV --
Treatment has been found to prevent sexual transmission of the virus.
After eight years of trackingup of the so-
The study, known as a couple with different serum levels, found no cases of HIV transmission in couples.
The researchers said the study demonstrated that the use of antiretroviral therapy to suppress HIV to an undetectable level also means that it cannot be transmitted through sexual behavior.
"Our findings provide solid evidence for gay men that the risk of curbing the spread of HIV in art is zero," said Alison Roger, professor at University College London.
Led the research.
This "strong message" can help end the HIV epidemic by preventing high HIV transmission, she said
People at risk.
For example, in this study alone, the researchers estimated that the suppression of antiretroviral therapy prevented about 472 cases of HIV transmission during the eight years.
The study, published in the Journal of Medicine on Thursday, assessed the risk of HIV transmission between gay couples of different genders
One of them is HIV.
First, HIV positive. negative -
People who don't use condoms
Its findings increase the early stages of the study, which examined the risk of HIV transmission in different sero-sex couples in the same situation.
It also found zero risk.
While 15 of the 972 gay couples at this stage did get HIV in the next eight years --
Genetic tests showed that they were infected with HIV strains obtained from another sexual partner.
Since the onset of the 1980-generation AIDS epidemic, 77 million people have been infected with HIV.
Almost half the people35. 4 million -
AIDS died.
Global health experts say that with the decline in the number of AIDS deaths per year and the increase in the number of people receiving antiretroviral treatment, the fight against HIV is at a dangerous moment, however, the number of new infections remains high, about one.
There are 8 million new cases in the world every year.
Rachel Bagale, who coordinator for HIV prevention and testing, the latest study "adds clear and consistent evidence" that when people living with HIV receive antiretroviral treatment, HIV will not be transmitted to sexual partners (ART)
Their virus was suppressed.
"Increased access to HIV testing (and)ART . . .
It remains critical for individuals and is at the heart of the HIV public health response. "She said.