EastEnders fans have been left fearful other residents of Albert Square may be affected after Zack Hudson learned he is likely HIV positive in scenes on Tuesday evening.
The character’s issue-based storyline saw an old friend Brett break the news to him at the close of the latest episode, shortly after Zack’s drug past had been revealed.
Zack saw his life turned upside down after Brett's arrival, forcing him to make some major decisions about his future.
The pair spoke in private in the final scenes, when Brett told him he had HIV and Zack likely did too, since the pair had shared needles during their drug usage.
The health bombshell comes as Zack is still adjusting to impending fatherhood, as Whitney Dean is expecting his baby.
The revelation has left EastEnders fans at home fearful other residents in Walford may be affected by the virus, after Zack’s pack womanising ways.
Taking to Twitter, one fan wrote: “Not Zack having HIV and he’s probably given it to half of the Square the way he sleeps around,” as another ominously echoed: “So it's from years ago... Years of Zack not being on treatment, that's not good..”
A third added: “So by the looks of things it seems that Zack may have had HIV for years after Brett and Zack shared needles together years ago.
“My heart breaks for Zack that must have been such devastating news for him to hear.”
EastEnders producer Chris Clenshaw and the team on the BBC One soap have been writing the storyline with the help of charity Terrence Higgins Trust.
The producer said ahead of the scenes: “EastEnders has never shied away from covering sensitive issues and Zack’s story is one of these.”
“There are still so many myths and disinformation surrounding HIV, so working closely with Terrence Higgins Trust has enabled us to really understand what it is like for those that are diagnosed with HIV and we hope that this storyline will bring more awareness of HIV and what it is like to live with the virus in 2023.”
EastEnders was one of the first dramas in the UK to explore the impact of HIV and AIDS, when Mark Fowler was diagnosed with the virus in the 1990s.
Mark was the first mainstream British TV character to be diagnosed with HIV and his story helped change attitudes about the virus when fear and misinformation was rife.
Now Zack’s storyline will look at how the science of HIV has made huge strides in recent decades.
