Rare Chlamydia Strain Infecting Gay Men

The Washington Post ^ | February 6, 2006 | Lauran Neergaard

[DBeers]

WASHINGTON -- A particularly bad strain of chlamydia not usually seen in this country appears to be slowly spreading among gay and bisexual men, an infection that can increase their chances of getting or spreading the AIDS virus.

Called LGV chlamydia, this sexually transmitted disease has caused a worrisome outbreak in Europe, where some countries have confirmed dozens of cases. Diagnoses confirmed by U.S. health officials still are low, just 27 since they warned a year ago that the strain was headed here.

But specialists say that's undoubtedly a fraction of the infections, because this illness is incredibly hard to diagnose: Few U.S. clinics and laboratories can test for it. Painful symptoms can be mistaken for other illnesses, such as irritable bowel syndrome.

And because LGV chlamydia doesn't always cause noticeable symptoms _ right away, at least _ an unknown number of people may silently harbor and spread it, along with an increased risk of HIV transmission.

"My feeling is that what we're seeing now is still the tip of the iceberg," says Dr. Philippe Chiliade of the Whitman-Walker Clinic in Washington, D.C., which diagnosed its first few cases of LGV last month and is beginning to push for asymptomatic men to be screened.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention already was counting an 8 percent increase in HIV among gay and bisexual men between 2003 and 2004, before LGV's arrival was recognized.

"We are really concerned about this," says Dr. Catherine McLean of CDC's HIV and STD prevention program.

[Old Professer]

Is it just me or was the Budweiser "Streaker" commercial yesterday a parody on that dumb movie?

[ErnBatavia]

I always thought Chlamydia was one of those names that Sheila Jackson Lee wanted added to the Hurricane Name List...

[sgtbono2002]

The sodomites get all the diseases while the Carpet munchers have been given a free ride, Must have something to do with dipping your wick in feces.

[Mulch]

Yep. Saw on a C-Span classic taped around 1991. Lamb interviewed the author of the book The Myth of Heterosexual AIDS. The book reveals the PC politics surrounding AIDS. I believe the writer mentioned how even the CDC claimed in 1985 that AIDS would become a mainly heterosexual disease by 1990.

[kjo]

Future WaPo headline: Islamic Bomb Ends Life In America, Gays, Women, and Minorities Most Effected.

[nmh]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm what have I read about pestilenceS?

Matt.24:7

[7] For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.


Luke.21:11

[11] And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

Odd how THIS particular group, homosexuals, keeps getting hit with ALL kinds of health problems. It's never ending. And they get shriller and shriller for acceptance.

[MeanWestTexan]

"Just waiting for some "Typhoid Mary" Male Flight atttendant to bring it here to the US."

Patient Zero.

Read the book. One irresponsible gay flight attendant is pretty much wholly responsible for the entire AIDS problem.

[rockabyebaby]

Your body's way of saying STOP IT, THIS IS NOT RIGHT.

[RegulatorCountry]

"Must have something to do with dipping your wick in feces."

Naaah, it's all Ronald Reagan's fault, he didn't throw enough money at it in 1987, ya see ...

[Major_Risktaker]

AIDS is only one of the multiple diseases gay men expose themselves to that are generally not found in the rest of the population. We only hear about AIDS because it's deadly.

Like Mental Disease...

[jagusafr]

Having trouble working up a lot of sympathy here...

[kenth]

It could have been worse. They could have said the symptoms were a sore throat and upset stomach.

Did I really need to post that?

[SuziQ]

Is there ANY STD that is NOT affect homosexual men?

[nmh]

Yes, He does ... maybe #46 will help you out.

Tell me it's false.

Just look at it unfolding right before your eyes and still, people shake their fist at Him, every chance they get.

[OldEagle]

"I always thought Chlamydia was one of those names that Sheila Jackson Lee wanted added to the Hurricane Name List... "

Let's see...unusual names. That could be a whole new thread. My doctor friend claimed that one child was named Treponema Palladium Scott.

[SuziQ]

Actually lesbians have their share of STDs as well, we just don't hear about them as much.

[AmericanChef]

Ahem! They're "naturally" homosexual, but these diseases are clearly not, eh? Mother Nature is speaking to them, and nobody's listening.

[captnorb]

Last week wife and I were on cruise. Stopped in Grand Cayman and observed police in force at tender dock. Protesters were gathering and carried signs; "Please leave our island".

I asked a policeman what the trouble was and he said a ship that promoted a gay cruise had arrived. The locals didn't want the passengers("Gay pride week at Disneyworld")on Grand Cayman.

We watched hundreds of men coming (no pun) ashore. Think any might have had HIV, Aids, etc? What about the crew on that ship as well as the cabins being disinfected?

Oh well, brokeback (bareback) mountain is OK with many and we are being told "It's only a movie". BS

[bcsco]

I guess if you're gonna play you're gonna pay.

Oh well, on to something else.

[Ditter]

"Patient Zero"

Since I don't intend to read the book, do you mind telling me where 'he' caught it?