Another positive-HIV test has halted the porn industry for the third time this year. A porn star came forward on Friday after testing positive for the disease, Radar Online reports. According to sources "all first generation contacts" - or everyone the star came into contact with on-and-off set - are being tested for HIV.
Reportedly the actor, whose gender and identity has not been revealed, was said to be a "crossover" star and worked with both heterosexual and gay porn stars.
"The positive performer is working with the testing doctors to determine a timeline and genealogy of the virus and to determine if the performer pool was exposed," a spokesperson for the Free Speech Coalition told Radar.
A source told the website that the industry fears the number of infected people "could be major" because the actor who tested positive worked with men and women and had shot a number of films recently.
"This individual has worked in the industry for close to 15 years and is still a prolific performer today," the source said. "Indeed, he shot a number of films recently. The list of potential first generation contacts could include many and both men and women."
After the actor came forward with the news the industry was forced to call another moratorium. The industry shutdown for the first time after porn star Cameron Bay - and her boyfriend Rod Daily - came forward with positive tests. It halted again in September, when a doctor affiliated with the industry said a third actor had tested positive.
The industry resumed production in the fall. There has been an on-going debate within the industry to use condoms when shooting sex scenes but many actors and directors are against the idea out of fear that it would hurt their sales.
The Free Speech Coalition have not said how long this moratorium is expected to last but said they are taking this outbreak seriously.
"We take the health of our performers very seriously and the felt that it was better to err on the side of caution while we determine whether anyone else may have been exposed," FSC chief executive officer Diane Duke said. "We want to make sure all performers are protected. The performers' health and safety is the most important thing."
