Programs & Services

Undetectable Equals Untransmittable (U=U)

Welcome to the Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) Campaign from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)!

The purpose of this campaign is to spread awareness and education about the concept of U=U, which states that a person living with HIV who has an undetectable viral load cannot transmit the virus to their sexual partners. This message is based on overwhelming scientific evidence and has been endorsed by leading health organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIH).

U=U is a simple and powerful message that can change lives. People living with HIV who achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load through antiretroviral therapy (ART) can live long and healthy lives, and they also have effectively no risk of sexually transmitting the virus to their partners.

We believe that this message has the power to break down stigma and promote greater understanding throughout North Carolina communities. We believe that knowledge is power, and that everyone deserves access to the information and resources they need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. That’s why we’re launching this campaign to spread the word about U=U and to help reduce stigma and discrimination against those living with HIV, here in our own state.

You can use these social media graphics to help address the importance of reducing stigma with education and awareness, as they are in line with the North Carolina Ending the Epidemic (ETE) Plan that consists of three pillars: Engage and Embrace, Test and Treat, and Policy and Promotion. Each pillar has strategies, action steps and approaches to address stigma. The electronic version of the plan is available in English and Spanish.

Download ETE Plan in English or Spanish

Here are some of the key facts you should know about U=U:

U=U is based on a large body of scientific evidence. Numerous studies have shown that people with undetectable viral loads are not at risk of transmitting HIV to their sexual partners.
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a highly effective treatment for HIV. When taken as prescribed, art can help suppress the HIV virus and maintain an undetectable viral load.
U=U is a game changer for people living with HIV. It offers hope, reduces stigma, and empowers people to take control of their health and well-being.

We believe that everyone deserves to know about U=U. If you or someone you know is living with HIV, please share these campaign materials and information and encourage them to talk to their healthcare provider about ART and U=U.

Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Prevention Methods

We also believe that everyone deserves to know about HIV and other STDs and how they can protect themselves from getting any of them. There are multiple ways to prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). These include practicing abstinence, using condoms correctly every time you have sex, having fewer sexual partners, getting vaccinated, talking openly and honestly with your partners and most importantly, getting tested. Read more about this by visiting the online infographic “The Lowdown on How to Prevent STDs”. Also view the CDC’s text only version of “The Lowdown Infographic”, or download the “The Lowdown infographic poster”. Get the facts by arming yourself with basic information about STDs from the CDC’s “How You Can Prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases” webpage.

HIV Risk Reduction Tool

It’s important for you to understand that there are multiple ways you can reduce your risk of contracting HIV. Abstinence (not having sex) is a 100% effective way to prevent getting HIV from a sex partner, but for people who are sexually active, more tools are available to prevent HIV than ever before. Taking medication to treat HIV if you are positive, taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent getting HIV and taking post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) if you think you’ve been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours and are not on PrEP, choosing less risky sexual behaviors, and using condoms with lubricants are all highly effective ways to reduce the risk of getting or transmitting HIV. It’s important to have open and honest communication by sharing your HIV status with your sex partners and having them tell you their status as well. Other options include being in a monogamous relationship, choosing partners with the same HIV status (serosorting), and having sex agreements to protect yourselves and your partners from HIV. Check out the CDC’s HIV Risk Reduction Tool with detailed explanations of reducing your risk of getting or transmitting HIV. This tool can be customized as needed.

You can also reduce your risk of contracting HIV by understanding that some types of sex are riskier than others for getting or transmitting HIV. The “Safer Sex 101 for HIV” infographic that is in both English and Spanish does a great job with explaining the different types of risks and ways to reduce your risks by making sure that if your partner is living with HIV, they are in care, taking HIV treatment, virally suppressed and remaining undetectable.

Together, we can create a brighter future for people living with HIV in North Carolina and beyond. Join us in sharing these social media graphics to spread the word about U=U and let’s end stigma, discrimination, and HIV transmission for good!

Sample Social Media Messages

Looking for content to promote U=U and anti-stigma messaging to your social media audiences? Check out the following campaigns and share them with your community.

U=U Toolkit