After actor Charlie Sheen publicly announced his HIV-positive status in November, the greatest number of HIV-related Google searches in the United States on a single day was recorded, according to study done by UNC professors.

“This Charlie Sheen effect has generated one of the greatest public health awareness moments for HIV,” said study co-author Seth Noar. “Sheen’s disclosure could make public health messages about HIV that much more salient, especially at a time when HIV receded from the headlines.”

According to the study, there were approximately 2.75 million more Google searches that included the term HIV on the day of Sheen’s disclosure, with 1.25 million more searches that included terms for condoms, HIV symptoms or HIV testing.

One in eight people living with HIV in the United States are unaware they are living with the disease.

“This work sets the stage for developing public health campaigns in the future and maximizing the opportunities to educate the world on how to protect itself from HIV,” Noar said.

HIV searches were 417 percent higher than expected on the day of Sheen’s announcement. Searches involving condoms increased 75 percent.

More specific searches involving symptoms and testing increased 540 and 214 percent respectively.

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