Posted on 02/06/2006 2:55:11 PM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Why should you be concerned?
the carriers certainly aren't.
You do reap what you sow, y'now.
Nah..... really? Whadda surprise for a group of people who put the wrong thing in there going "backwards" against Mother Nature's intentions and design.
Like, I said, they gotta recruit. That's why they
try and act like what they do is "love". Gotta get
that confused child, and convince them it's ok to try it...
more red meat.The bugs know how to survive better, and use their hosts' bodies as "petri" dishes to grow.
Not necessarily so. I knew of some womyn who got "throat rush" from this strain of chlamydia (don't think about it too hard... or your head will hurt).
ROTFLMGO!
I can't remember, but I am pretty sure it was Africa, probably catching it from a bisexual who hunted/ate chimps or was otherwise exposed to chimp blood.
It is chronicaled in "And The Band Played On" (the book and movie). In real life, Patient Zero was a gay Canadian flight attendant named Gaëtan Dugas.
The queers try to discredit all the CDC work pin pointing Dugas because: (1) Dugas the epitome of the bathhouse queer, gleefully and irresponsibly spreading the disease and (2) they try to claim it is a heterosexual disease.
Truth hurts.
"Is there ANY STD that is NOT affect homosexual men?"
Pregnancy.
How do you know this? Where have the statistics ever been reported on this?
As my wise old Grandmother used to say "if you don't stick it where it don't belong, you won't have to worry about it".
She also said "when you lie down with dogs you get up with fleas"
What people get for using what was designed as a waste diposal plant as a recreational facility.
Remember it was a veterinarian that postulated that the disease (GRIDS) was acting just like a retrovirus disease that was endemic in felines. The physicians and the staff at the CDC dismissed his hypothesis and later had to eat their words.
Pregnancy is a disease?
How long will it be before we start hearing about this epidemic which needs funds thrown at it?
I see ribbons, bumperstickers, Broadway shows (Think "Team America") and so on.
What makes this doubly annoying and irritating is that our tax dollars must be spent on things like this that are nearly 100% preventable.
Yes. Federal funding, I'm sure.
Well put!
Bring out your dead
I'll take, "Health Risks Associated with the Homosexual Lifestyle that weren't Mentioned on Brokeback Mountain," for $2,000 Alex.
ROTFLMAO
Imagine the different tone the handwringing would take if a traditional conservative activity were anywhere near the threat to public health these peoples' behavior is.
If, say, bass fishing infected one sportsman in one thousand with highly contagious and eventually lethal diseases, would there be a bass fishing pride month? Multi billion dollar federal subsidies set aside specifically for caring for anglers who infected themselves? Personal interest stories lionizing the bravery of people who chose to go fishing despite the risks? Would President Hillary speak of ending the stigma against fisherman in her State of the Union address?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.