HIV
REVIEW: Yen Tan’s ‘1985’ is a poignant AIDS-era family drama
Reminding us at once how far we’ve come in terms of society’s view on sexuality yet that there is still change to be integrated, writer-director Yen Tan’s 1985 is a beautiful, poignant drama set during the early years of the AIDS epidemic. Slow burning, tonally and texturally stunning (the black-and-white palette evokes memories of the …
AskDocQ: U=U means if a person with HIV is undetectable, they can’t pass it on
A person with HIV who is on treatment and is undetectable cannot transmit HIV to their sexual partner. There is no risk. Zero. Brisbane LGBTIQ health specialist Dr Fiona Bisshop explains why. I need to have a rant about U=U and HIV. I’ve written about this before, and sorry for repeating myself, but every time I think …
OPINION: Social media shaming and blaming shows HIV stigma persists
The response on social media last month to a Sydney PrEP user who shared his story of contracting HIV while taking the prevention medication has shown that HIV stigma is still sadly persistent, writes Douglas Billing. After scrolling through threads on social media following the articles that have been published regarding a man who has …
Australia’s first HIV self-testing device is now on sale
Australia’s first HIV self-testing device to receive TGA approval goes on sale today. The Atomo Self Test is a finger-prick blood test that allows people to test themselves for HIV at home, providing them with a result in as little as fifteen minutes after performing the test. The testing kits go on sale today through …
Advocates say $45 million in federal budget will boost HIV prevention
The Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations has said the federal government’s allocation of $45 million in Tuesday’s budget to prevent, diagnose and treat sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses will greatly aid efforts to fight HIV. The Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) said the funding over four years will foster nationally consistent HIV prevention …
AskDocQ: Keep calm and stay PrEP’d
Australian Steve Spencer has become the seventh person worldwide known to have contracted HIV while taking prevention drug PrEP, out of an estimated 450,000 users around the globe. The medication has proved to be a highly effective HIV prevention strategy and has dramatically reduced rates of infection, writes Brisbane LGBTIQ health specialist Dr Fiona Bisshop. …
Sydney man who contracted HIV while taking PrEP opens up about diagnosis
A Sydney man has become the second gay Australian to contract HIV while taking prevention medication PrEP. Steve Spencer returned a positive diagnosis in December during one of his regular sexual health tests, a requirement for people taking the pre-exposure prophylaxis pills. “It was a surprise and a shock,” the 27-year-old told ABC News. “I …
Monthly injection to treat HIV ‘as effective as daily pills’ in initial trials
A monthly injection to treat HIV has been found to work just as well as daily pill regimens in two initial trials. The results of two trials by company ViiV Healthcare were presented at an HIV research conference last week and showed the injectable antiretroviral treatment, a combination of drugs cabotegravir and rilpivirine, was just …
AskDocQ: Beyond the headlines, the truth about HIV ‘cure’ case
You might have heard about the story that broke last week — a second person “cured” of HIV. Nicknamed the “London patient,” he underwent a cancer treatment which prevented the virus from re-infecting his donor cells, thus effectively clearing his immune system of all trace of HIV. Newspaper front pages loudly proclaimed that he is …
Aussies share red ribbon selfies on National Day of Women Living With HIV
Australians took to social media last weekend to share selfies featuring red ribbons as part of a new campaign for the National Day of Women Living with HIV on March 9. Femfatales, the national network of women living with HIV, the National Association of People with HIV Australia (NAPWHA) and ViiV Healthcare Australia launched the …