AP
California health officials are concerned about the recent number of HIV cases reported in the state’s lucrative porn industry.
Sixteen more cases have recently emerged making the total number of confirmed cases 22 in the last 5 years.
Last week it was revealed that a female actress tested positive for HIV immediately after making an adult film.
The Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation reported the actress’s positive results. The foundation tests hundreds of actors every month in the U.S. porn industry capital, the San Fernando Valley.
The woman’s co-stars have tested negative, but have been quarantined from acting and have been advised to seek retesting in two weeks because it may take that long for the infection to be detected.
In a statement the foundation said, “All required reporting has been complied with. This is not a major event.”
The state Division of Occupational Safety and Health is attempting to find the filmmaker to begin a formal investigation. A spokesperson for the agency, Dean Fryer said, “Our concern is that we need to quickly get to the employer so that we can work with them to change their practices to ensure the proper safety measures are being taken to prevent the additional spread of HIV.”
Fryer said, “There is no reason these infections should be occurring if these employers are following these precautions.”
In 2004 the industry experienced an HIV outbreak and panic shut down several productions and producers began to require actors use condoms.
Steve Hirsch, Co-Chief Executive of Vivid Entertainment Group said of the panic, “What happened was the talent didn’t want to use condoms. As a result, we decided to go condom optional.”
No state law currently requires anyone to use condoms, but certain regulations require filmmakers to provide protection against sexually transmitted diseases, such as condoms or using film techniques that involve simulated situations.
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Comments
Ernest Greene of AIM has an extensive comment on the facts behind this story, which is more complex than the "reckless porn industry versus health officials" angle that media sources have been running with:
bppa.blogspot.com/2009/06/latest-hiv-in-porn-panic-rumor-control.html
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