The possibility that one of the twelve women in the first-generation of the first HIV outbreak in the adult industry in four years has been infected with HIV is high, according to Dr. Sharon Mitchell, executive director of the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation (AIM).
In light of that possibility, the quarantine placed on the first-generation and second-generation performers has been extended from 30 days to 60 days. That means the outbreak can't be declared contained until June 8, 60 days after the last day Darren James, the veteran performer who tested HIV-positive, worked.
“The situation with an infected male in the adult industry is a grave situation. Women are more susceptible to infection, particularly with high risk sexual such as anals and double anals that are prevalent in the industry today,” Mitchell told AVN.com
The rate of collection for the HIV virus is at 75 percent at 30 days, but doesn’t hit 99 percent until 60 days. If the quarantine were only 30 days, there would still be a 25 percent chance that one of the first-generation women would end up testing positive – after having been active for a month.
“I don’t feel comfortable leaving that 25 percent out there. We need to be absolutely certain that we’ve contained this,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell realizes that it is unrealistic to expect production to halt in Porn Valley, but admits that such a move is the only way ensure that what for now is an isolated case does not turn into an epidemic.
