Porn production halted after positive HIV test

Posted Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:02am AEDT

Two US adult film companies have suspended production after an actor tested HIV positive.

Vivid Entertainment and Wicked Pictures, both based outside Los Angeles, took the action as a precaution after the unidentified actor was confirmed as having the virus that causes AIDS.

"When Vivid was first made aware that a performer had tested positive for HIV we immediately suspended production. We did this as a precaution and will continue to monitor the situation," said Vivid's founder Steven Hirsch.

Steve Orenstein, head of Wicked Pictures, added: "Although Wicked Pictures only shoots with condoms, we still don't want to put any actor or actress in a position to work with someone that may prove to be on the quarantine list."

It is not known whether the infected actor is male or female.

A clinic that specialises in caring for porn industry workers says it is working to screen other actors who may have been exposed to the virus.

"We are quarantining and testing all exposed partners to the individual," Jennifer Miller of the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation (AIM) told the LA Times.

"We're doing what we can to notify the individuals involved," she added.

Both production companies say they will wait until AIM has finished its testing before resuming production.

"AIM Healthcare acted appropriately to quarantine all adult talent who may have been exposed," said Hirsch.

"We will wait for all of the facts to emerge before we resume production."

Orenstein added: "We feel it is best to wait for AIM to finish their testing before resuming production."

The HIV case - the first in more than a year in the lucrative industry based in the San Fernando valley north of LA - has fuelled calls for adult film companies to force actors in their movies to use condoms.

"How many more people have to be infected with HIV before Los Angeles County steps in to do its job and protect performers' and the public's health" asked Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.