A report was released yesterday by the California Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Branch saying that it has documented the on-set transmission of an HIV infection from an adult film performer thought to be working out of state (in Nevada) to another performer the individual worked with.

 

The case involves a male performer who was being filmed with other male performers a few months ago. The newly infected individual initially tested HIV-negative in California after shooting a bareback video; however, two weeks later, the individual tested HIV-positive. In mid-October, the Free Speech Coalition (FSC), the adult industry trade group, instituted a moratorium on adult industry filming due to reports of an industry-related infection—due to what is most likely this latest HIV case. (The filming ban was lifted by the FSC the following week.)

 

California health officials confirmed the on-set transmission after sending blood samples to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which genetically sequenced (genotyping and phenotyping) the virus found in the performers involved, and matched it to an adult film actor that the infected performer worked with.

 

“This is not AHF or supporters of condoms claiming that an HIV transmission occurred on the set of an adult film," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). "This is California’s Department of Public Health and OSHA Occupational Health officials who vetted the performers' blood samples with the CDC and concluded after genetic sequencing that this HIV infection occurred on set.

 

"For years adult film producers have claimed that performers who have tested HIV-positive while working in the industry did not contract HIV in the industry, but became infected through exposure in their personal lives outside and away from adult film sets. This new case puts truth to the lie that the industry has promoted year-after-year, years that sadly saw several additional performers infected while working in the porn industry.”

 

A health department official refused to reveal when the transmission had taken place or which company it involved, citing privacy restrictions.

 

We'll let you know when further details become available.

 

HIV alert issued in California after porn actor tests positive following unprotected sex on set of adult film [Daily Mail]

 

Alert issued after likely HIV porn set infection in Nevada [Las Vegas Sun]

 

Porn Star Transmits HIV On-Set, California Officials Say [LA Weely]