Maël Gerday was 22 years old on 1 July 2024, when an infectious diseases specialist in Brussels told him he was HIV-positive. Two years later, at age 25, Gerday speaks openly about living with the virus, confronting persistent stigma, rejection, and the legal grey zones surrounding transmission in Belgium, as reported by The Brussels Times.
Initial Symptoms and the July 2024 Diagnosis
Weeks before his diagnosis, Gerday experienced sweating, red patches on his face, and awful stools. Initially mistaking the symptoms for the flu, he requested a comprehensive blood test from his general practitioner, including screening for STDs. His GP subsequently arranged an urgent evening appointment with an infectious diseases specialist.
At the hospital, the specialist confirmed the positive result. Gerday recalls feeling sad, angry, and frightened of judgment. Coincidentally, he had planned a date that same evening with a Frenchman interning in a Brussels hospital. After sharing the news, the man—an HIV researcher—helped ease the immediate emotional weight of the diagnosis.
Sciensano records hundreds of new HIV diagnoses across Belgium
National public health institute Sciensano recorded 662 new HIV diagnoses in Belgium in 2024, equivalent to almost two diagnoses every day. Brussels accounted for 201 of those diagnoses, registering a rate of 16 per 100,000 inhabitants—almost three times the national average. An estimated 19,183 people live with HIV nationwide, with more than 1,200 individuals remaining unaware of their status.
Despite these figures, modern antiretroviral therapy has transformed clinical outcomes. By the end of 2024, 98% of people receiving antiretroviral treatment in Belgium achieved viral suppression. Clinical nurse Zoë Kipouros of Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB) Erasme notes that an undetectable viral load means a person can not transmit, and thus is not obliged to reveal his status, though exposing someone to a genuine risk of HIV transmission could have criminal consequences.
Legal Precedents and Prosecution of HIV Transmission
Belgium maintains no HIV-specific criminal offence, but prosecutors have historically relied on general criminal law in transmission cases. In June 2011, the Huy Criminal Court convicted an HIV-positive man under Article 402 of the former Belgian Criminal Code for the intentional administration, without intent to kill, of substances capable of causing death or seriously damaging health, sentencing him to three years in prison with two suspended. A similar conviction occurred in October 2015 when the Brussels Criminal Court sentenced a man to 18 months following a paid sexual encounter.
Charlotte Pezeril, director of the Observatory of AIDS and Sexualities, previously explained to Le Vif that early attempts to prosecute such cases as poisoning failed because that offence required proof of an intention to kill. Observers note that courts during subsequent prosecutions occasionally failed to factor in defendants’ HIV treatment or viral load, highlighting a disconnect between established science and legal practice.
Gerday tailors his HIV disclosure strategy to relationship types
Gerday distinguishes his disclosure strategy based on the nature of a relationship. For casual encounters, he argues that an undetectable viral load means he should not necessarily have to disclose his HIV status. For serious relationships, however, he values transparency and trust. Some prospective partners have distanced themselves upon learning of his status.
Family reactions similarly reflect generational divides. Gerday’s parents initially felt frightened due to limited understanding of the virus and advances made in its treatment, though their concerns eased over time. His grandmother, in her nineties, genuinely wondered why he was talking way too much about “VHS”, the French abbreviation for old videotape cassettes, while maintaining conservative views on intimate matters. Gerday refuses to let fear dictate his life, using open discussion to filter out preconceived judgments from his social circle.
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