One of Sweden's best-known pop stars has admitted in a magazine interview that he is HIV-positive.
Andreas Lundstedt, 35, who achieved international success as a member of Swedish disco foursome Alcazar told gay lifestyle magazine QX that he had tested positive for the virus several years ago.
Lundstedt is the first Swedish entertainment star since the eighties to admit publicly to being HIV positive. He said the strain of the virus with which he was infected is not as aggressive as some other strains.
The singer said he did not know who infected him and had never felt a need to know. He told his then-boyfriend immediately following the diagnosis.
None of Lundstedt's partners since then have been infected, including current partner Mattias, he said. Among his ex-boyfriends is former Alcazar band-mate Magnus Carlsson.
"I know that there are more people in my industry who have it, and it's just a shame that it's a taboo issue," he said.
Among the international singing stars to have gone public as HIV positive are Andy Bell of eighties pop group Erasure. George Michael recently said in a British TV interview that fear had prevented him having an HIV test since 2004.
"It's very sad to hear that Andreas is HIV positive. He is brave – we must support him," said leader of the opposition Social Democrats, Mona Sahlin, to Expressen.
Singer and one-time Eurovision winner Charlotte Perrelli, who has been touring with Lundstedt, said she was upset.
"I think he's the world's most wonderful person," she told Expressen.
Alcazar enjoyed international success with hits including Crying and the Discotheque, Sexual Guarantee and Sinner Not a Saint. Lundstedt has also enjoyed a successful career in Sweden as a solo artist and musical star.