Ending the AIDS Epidemic in New York State

On June 29, 2014, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo detailed a three-point plan to move us closer to the end of the AIDS epidemic in New York State. The goal is to reduce the number of new HIV infections to just 750 (from an estimated 3,000) by 2020 and achieve the first ever decrease in HIV prevalence in New York State.

The three-point plan:

  1. Identifies persons with HIV who remain undiagnosed and link them to health care.
  2. Links and retains persons diagnosed with HIV in health care to maximize virus suppression so they remain healthy and prevent further transmission.
  3. Facilitates access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for high-risk persons to keep them HIV negative.

Ending the Epidemic (ETE) in New York State will maximize the availability of life-saving, transmission-interrupting treatment for HIV, saving lives and improving the health of New Yorkers. It will move New York from a history of having the worst HIV epidemic in the country to a future where new infections are rare and those living with the disease have normal lifespans with few complications.

Undetectable=Untransmittable (U=U): Letters from the Commissioner

The following provides information on important advancements pertaining to Point 2 of the Governor’s Plan, to link and retain persons diagnosed with HIV in health care to maximize virus suppression so they remain healthy and prevent further transmission.

Letters From Commissioner Howard A. Zucker, M.D. J.D.
Please see below for an important message from New York State Department of Health Commissioner Zucker. The first letter details important background on U=U and the second summarizes this information and speaks to our commitment to continue to engage stakeholders as we move forward.

Dear Colleague Letter: Clinicians
Dear Colleague Letter: Stakeholders

The Prevention Access Campaign Statement can be found here: https://www.preventionaccess.org/consensus

U=U Policy Statement (PDF)

U=U Frequently Asked Questions

Links to Relevant Articles and Information:

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Dear Colleague Letter
  2. Swiss Commission Statement 2008
  3. Prevention of HIV-1 infection with early antiretroviral therapy. New England Journal of Medicine
  4. Antiretroviral Therapy for the Prevention of HIV-1 Transmission. New England Journal of Medicine
  5. Sexual Activity Without Condoms and Risk of HIV Transmission in Serodifferent Couples When the HIV-Positive Partner Is Using Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy. (PARTNER). Journal of the American Medical Association
  6. HIV treatment prevents HIV transmission in male serdiscordant couples in Australia, Thailand and Brazil. IAS2017. (Opposites Attract)
  7. National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) U=U Policy Statement
  8. U=U Webinar, New York State Department of Health June 2017. Listen to the recording!

Please note:
The negligible risk of HIV sexual transmission with a sustained, undetectable viral load does not however extend to other activities documented to be associated with HIV transmission, namely: blood transfusions, transplants, breast-feeding and the sharing of syringes or drug preparatory paraphernalia/items. The evidence is either lacking or does not support the removal of prohibitions against these HIV risk associated events at this time.

AIDS Institute Director 2019 Call to Action Letter (PDF)

2018 Ending the Epidemic Summit

Blueprint Created by New York State's Ending the Epidemic Task Force

On October 14, 2014, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced members of the Ending the Epidemic Task Force (Task Force). The Task Force was established to support Governor Cuomo's three-point plan. The Task Force developed and synthesized recommendations, presented in New York's Blueprint to end the epidemic.

ETE Blueprint Cover Image

New York State's Blueprint to End the AIDS Epidemic

ETE Activity Report

Ending the Epidemic 2015-2016 Activity Report

  • The Ending the Epidemic (ETE) Activity Reports identify key implementation efforts that address the 30 Recommendations and 7 "Getting to Zero" Recommendations included in the ETE Blueprint and details the progress made.

Ending the Epidemic Implementation Strategies

From Blueprint to Action: Ending the Epidemic New York State Regional Discussions

On June 29, 2014, Governor Cuomo announced a three-point plan to end AIDS as an epidemic in New York State.  The goal of the initiative is to decrease new HIV infections to the point where, by the end of 2020, the number of persons living with HIV in New York State will be reduced for the first time.   In October 2014, Governor Cuomo established a Task Force in support of his three-point plan to decrease new HIV infections to 750 per year by the end of 2020. The Task Force developed and synthesized recommendations, presented in New York’s Blueprint to end the AIDS epidemic.  Up to 13 regional discussions will be held across NYS beginning in August and ending in the fall of 2015.  These regional discussions will provide an opportunity to identify and implement community driven strategies and partners to address the Governor’s three-point plan to end the AIDS epidemic by the end of 2020 in NYS.

Ending the Epidemic Webinar Series

The AIDS Institute is pleased to announce a webinar series designed to engage a wide range of health and human services providers and consumers in discussing how they can take action in their communities to implement the recommendations outlined in the 2015 Blueprint for Achieving the Goals Set Forth by Governor Cuomo to End the Epidemic in NYS by the end of 2020.

The goals of this webinar series are to:

  1. Engage stakeholders in discussions about their role in implementing the Blueprint.
  2. Bring attention to recommendations in the plan related to specific vulnerable populations.
  3. Share innovative strategies for HIV prevention, testing and linkage/retention in care.

ETE Webinar Series (PDF)

Ending the Epidemic Resources