On Saturday, "Queer Eye" star Jonathan Van Ness said that he is healthy and HIV-positive in an interview in the New York Times.
Van Ness was diagnosed when he was 25 years old after he had flu-like symptoms and went to Planned Parenthood to get tested for sexually transmitted infections. The Netflix star further detailed his experience im his upcoming memoir "Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love."
"That day was just as devastating as you would think it would be," Van Ness wrote.
When he started working on "Queer Eye," Van Ness said he was conflicted about discussing his HIV status, but ultimately decided to discuss his personal experience with HIV given the current political climate.
"The Trump administration has done everything they can do to have the stigmatization of the L.G.B.T. community thrive around me," Van Ness told the Times about his thought process. "I do feel the need to talk about this."
Despite the number of people who have the disease today, misinformation about HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome continues to abound. Fortunately, plenty of reputable sources offer accessible information about HIV and AIDS, while events like World AIDS Day, which falls on December 1 every year, promote awareness and research.
Read on to learn about the most common HIV and AIDS myths and why you shouldn't believe them.
Myth: HIV and AIDS are the same thing.
AIDS is the final stage of HIV, and some people who have HIV will never gets AIDS, according to Planned Parenthood.
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Before that, HIV begins in stage 1, which occurs two to four weeks after a person is infected with HIV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During stage 1, a person could either experience flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, chills, and a fever, or they can experience no symptoms at all.
Next comes stage 2, also known as asymptomatic HIV infection, according to the CDC. During this time, HIV is active in a person's body, but the virus reproduces slowly, meaning a person might not feel any symptoms for some time. Stage 2 can last for a decade or even several decades for a person who has been diagnosed and is taking medication.
HIV medication can help a person stay virally suppressed, meaning they have a low chance of spreading HIV to others and their own health stays intact, according to the CDC. If a person is not taking HIV medication, however, HIV can progress to stage 3, or AIDS.
Myth: You can get HIV if you donate blood or get a blood transfusion.
This was more common in the early years of HIV, due to lack of rigorous testing and restrictions.
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When it comes to giving blood, it's impossible to contract HIV during the process because blood collected from donors is done with sterile techniques including clean needles.
These days, you are most likely to contract HIV one of two ways. The first is by having unprotected anal or vaginal sex with someone who has HIV. The second is by sharing drug equipment — needles, syringes, rinse water — with someone who has HIV.
Myth: It's easy to tell if you have HIV.
Getting tested is the only way to know for sure if you have HIV.
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For example, one symptom of stage 1 HIV is flu-like symptoms — think fever, chills, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue. But some people who have contracted HIV won't feel ill until later stages of the disease.
What's more, these symptoms don't necessarily mean you have HIV and could be something else entirely. If you think you've been exposed to HIV through sex or blood, you should see your healthcare provider who can administer a test and verify the results. Other testing options include at-home testing kits, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation noted.
In the coming years, however, other populations would start to notice they were susceptible to HIV and the disease wasn't limited to gay people. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), anyone can get HIV, but certain groups, like African Americans, Latinos, and gay and bisexual men have a higher risk.
Myth: If you and your partner both have HIV, you don't need to use protection.
HIV has different strains.
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It may seem logical that if two people have the same infection, they have no chance of infecting the other person, but there are multiple strains of HIV.
This means you and your partner could actually have two different types of HIV and therefore could infect each other if you don't use protection.
If you contract a different strain of HIV than the one you already had, it could change the type of treatment you need.
Myth: People with HIV can't lead normal lives.
The life expectancy for European and North American men and women living with HIV is 73 and 76, respectively.
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That said, living with HIV isn't without complications. According to Healthline, people living with HIV may develop certain side effects, like tuberculosis, infections, and even cancer. If people receive timely, regular treatment, the side effects are less likely.
Myth: HIV is curable.
The goal is to find a cure for HIV by 2020.
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There have been major advancements in the treatment of HIV. But despite the progress, there is still no cure.
In 2016, the United Nations announced a new set of goals that would put the world on track to end the HIV epidemic by 2030. These goals include doubling the number of people on treatment, accelerating prevention outreach, and preventing new HIV infections among children.
But according to Labiotech, Europe's leading biotech news website, the virus' ability to quickly mutate and develop resistance is presenting a challenge.
