Why can we get HIV to a viral load of 0 but can’t get rid of the virus?
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Yes the DNA answers are correct but the *main* reason is that HIV lives in reservoirs within the body where ARVs don’t reach. So while the viral load circulating in the blood is zero or close to zero – HIV still can exist within these reservoirs. If HAART is stopped – the virus will start to reproduce and spread. That’s why we are close to a functioning cure with current treatment options – but we can’t fully eradicate HIV from a person – yet. So we are careful to say that HIV is *treatable* and *manageable* but not curable.
However despite these reservoirs folks who are undetectable (viral load of less than 40 copies is usually the standard) CANNOT transmit HIV. Even if they have sex without a condom. That’s why getting treatment to folks as soon as they are diagnosed is so important because 1) it effectively gives positive folks their lives and health back and 2) *prevents* new infections. There’s an individual and a collective benefit to treatment.
HIV PrEP/PEP and newly diagnosed counselor here.
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