HIV transmission documented between actors during adult film shoot

The California Department of Public Health has reported that an adult entertainment film actor recently became infected with HIV and likely spread the infection to another male actor during a film shoot.

“Public health investigation and laboratory results provide very strong evidence that the actor transmitted HIV to the other actor as a result of unprotected sex during the film shoot,” the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Occupational Health Branch, stated in a health alert.

The first actor had a negative HIV test prior to engaging in unprotected sex with other male actors during two separate film shoots over a 2-week period. He exhibited symptoms of a viral infection during the second film shoot and a subsequent blood test showed he recently became infected with HIV. The local public health department followed up with the actor’s sexual contacts and identified one male actor from the second film shoot who was newly positive for HIV.

Although some adult entertainment film companies require actors to have a negative HIV test 2 weeks prior to a film shoot, an HIV test very early in the infection can be negative.

“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,” Michael Weinstein, president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, said in a press release. “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.”

The report of this transmission comes on the heels of the 9th US Circuit of Appeals upholding Measure B, a Los Angeles County law that requires actors in pornographic films to wear condoms. It was voted into law in November 2012. The CDPH recommends that adult film actors use condoms, continue to be tested for HIV and other STDs and consider using pre-exposure prophylaxis.