Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Syphilis increase sparks AIDS concerns
UPI ^ | Nov 20, 2003 | Steve Mitchell

Posted on 11/20/2003 9:08:21 PM PST by neverdem

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Syphilis rates rose dramatically for the second straight year in the United States, particularly among gay and bisexual men, a finding that has health officials worried about an increase in HIV/AIDS cases in the coming years.

Overall, the U.S. syphilis rate rose by 9 percent between 2001 and 2002, the second consecutive increase from an all-time low in 2000, according to figures released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

The bulk of the increase occurred among men, rising by about 27 percent overall, including a staggering increase of more than 85 percent among white men and a nearly 36 percent increase among Latino men. Information on sexual orientation is often not collected by health departments but the CDC estimates 40 percent of the increase was in gay and bisexual men.

The total number of syphilis cases increased from 6,100 to more than 6,800, but CDC officials think this probably is only the tip of the iceberg because many cases go undiagnosed.

"The overall number is probably significantly higher," Dr. John Douglas, director of the CDCs division of sexually transmitted diseases, said during a teleconference about the new figures, which appear in the Nov. 21 issue of CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The rise in syphilis infections indicates a growing number of gay and bisexual men are having unprotected sex, which worries health officials because the men could be spreading other diseases, including HIV/AIDS.

The problem is not just limited to the United States. "Several other countries, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia and several countries in western Europe have also reported increases of syphilis and other diseases among gay and bisexual men and in many of these there are high levels of HIV co-infection," said Dr. Ronald O. Valdiserri, deputy director of CDC's HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis prevention center.

Valdiserri said there is no clear evidence HIV cases are increasing yet in the United States, "but we are extremely concerned about that possibility."

He noted a study released in July at the National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta found rates of diagnosis with HIV infection were up by 17 percent among men who have sex with men. This does not necessarily represent new cases, however, so it is difficult to determine if the HIV infection rate actually is increasing, "but we're very concerned about that increase because it wasn't observed in other risk groups," Valdiserri said.

Heightening concern further is the fact that syphilis increases the risk of HIV transmission by two to five times, because the genital sores caused by syphilis serve as portals of entry for the AIDS virus, Douglas said. In addition, a recent study found HIV viral load increases when a person has syphilis, suggesting he or she may be more contagious.

Sue Blank, assistant commissioner at the Bureau of Sexually Transmitted Disease Control at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said she is worried about syphilis increases -- with 434 cases in 2002, New York had the most of any U.S. city -- because they could translate into an increase in HIV/AIDS infections.

"Certainly, the concern for us is the syphilis outbreaks are going to be heralding increases in HIV," Blank said.

The CDC is now mobilizing efforts to battle the syphilis problem and officials are confident that prevention strategies can help keep the disease in check. Although syphilis increased in gay and bisexual men, education and intensified testing efforts appear to have resulted in a decline in cases among African-American men and a 19-percent drop among women overall -- including nearly a 22-percent decrease in African-American females.

However, prevention strategies will need to be tailored to the gay community to keep the disease in check in that population, Valdiserri said.

Although the factors driving the increase among gay and bisexual men are "multi-factorial" -- not due to one single cause -- some of the reasons include a relaxed attitude about sexually transmitted diseases. This is due to the introduction of medications that can keep AIDS in check, Valdiserri said. Other reasons include substance abuse and "emerging venues that facilitate unprotected sex including the Internet," he added.

Blank noted when her department interviewed a number of gay and bisexual men in 2002 about their sexual habits, it found recruiting sexual partners over the Internet was a common practice, including among those infected with syphilis.

Blank's group also found, however, men infected with syphilis were much more likely to report HIV infection than those not infected with syphilis. In addition, syphilis-infected men were more likely to report unprotected anal intercourse, attending private sex parties, use of illicit drugs and 11 or more partners in the past six months.

One of the strategies CDC intends to employ is to encourage organizations that serve gay and bisexual men to get the word out about the importance of detecting and treating syphilis.

Paul Feldman of the National Association of People with AIDS in Washington, said his organization would be willing to work with the CDC. But he noted a larger problem is a lack of funding for HIV and sexually transmitted disease prevention efforts.

For the fiscal year 2004 budget, the Bush administration requested a reduction of $9 million in the funds for CDC's HIV prevention and surveillance efforts, Feldman said. "Decreasing it in a time when an epidemic rages is insulting and frightening," he said.

The administration also requested decreasing the CDC's budget for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, which already barely registers at a scant $168 million for the entire country for 2003.

The syphilis rise and potential increases in AIDS cases will cause untold increases in lost wages, healthcare costs and human suffering, Feldman said. All of this easily could "be ameliorated with additional money," he said.

Steve Mitchell is UPI's Medical Correspondent. E-mail sciencemail@upi.com

Copyright © 2001-2003 United Press International


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: New York; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: aids; bisexual; cdc; consequences; gay; gaydisease; gaymarriage; gays; grids; hiv; homosexual; homosexualagenda; internet; medicalinsurance; meidicalcosts; prisoners; risinginsurance; risingmedicalcosts; romans1; sodomy; std; substanceabuse; syphilis; wagesofsin
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last
To: sushiman
You can get it off a toilet seat too, you know.
41 posted on 11/20/2003 10:23:27 PM PST by WackyKat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: concerned about politics
Flesh eating bacteria (no cure but to slice it off) mutated from auto immune defeceint (AID) patients

??

DO you have any links I can read?

42 posted on 11/20/2003 10:25:32 PM PST by Michael Barnes ("Free Speech is alive and well in London,we have that at home too. They now have that right in Iraq")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: freeangel
I watch Brit Hume (FOX), Lou Dobbs (CNN), and sometimes John Gibson (FOX)....... but little else.
43 posted on 11/20/2003 10:26:27 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: freeangel
tabloid shows

....And yeah, that's an accurate description.

44 posted on 11/20/2003 10:28:55 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: concerned about politics
"What will mutate next? Syphilis would be my guess."

Surprisingly no, syphilis is still sensitive to many of the older variants of the penicillin class of antibiotics. They are the drugs of choice unless there is a history of penicillin allergy.

I don't have an explanation why the organism that causes syphilis, Treponema pallidum, doesn't have the have the tendency to mutate and develop drug resistance like so many other organisms, other than it has genes to prevent mutations, but that's just my speculation.
45 posted on 11/20/2003 10:29:37 PM PST by neverdem (Say a prayer for New York both for it's lefty statism and the probability the city will be hit again)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: ysoitanly
I don't understand why syphilis is making a 'comeback'

I do, science coming out with new medicines and homo's and their diseases being classed as victims/protected instead of what they are; disease carrying (potential carriers for those who do not have something yet) transmitters. Science and their cocktails of drugs have made homo's immune to rational thought. Crimeny...There are idiots out there "chasing the bug"..These idiots are actively searching the "gift" (as they call it) of AIDS. They know they get special treatment, special rights and kid gloves all the way around.

Disgusting to the core.

46 posted on 11/20/2003 10:31:56 PM PST by Michael Barnes ("Free Speech is alive and well in London,we have that at home too. They now have that right in Iraq")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: WackyKat
You can get it off a toilet seat too, you know

That's a bunch of crap..Everyone knows these days that a simple handshake can do it..

47 posted on 11/20/2003 10:33:27 PM PST by Michael Barnes ("Free Speech is alive and well in London,we have that at home too. They now have that right in Iraq")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: unix
There are idiots out there "chasing the bug"..These idiots are actively searching the "gift" (as they call it) of AIDS.

Indeed. What's sad is some folks try to deny the very fact that some have chased the bug:

Bug Chasers - The men who long to be HIV+

and then there's this film on it:

Acting Up - The Gift Takes A Hard Look at Contemporary Gay Culture, Where HIV is Sexy and Prevention is Passé


48 posted on 11/20/2003 10:39:12 PM PST by scripter (Thousands have left the homosexual lifestyle)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: ppaul
Here ya go:

I can't believe I posted that!

Here's another:


49 posted on 11/20/2003 10:49:35 PM PST by scripter (Thousands have left the homosexual lifestyle)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: ysoitanly
"I don't understand why syphilis is making a 'comeback', unless it's because of all of our immigration - different customs, no medical screening any more to get in here (can't profile!). Or maybe we're now calling syphilis what it is - instead of just lumping it into the 'STD' category."

IIRC, legal immigrants are tested for TB, syphilis, HIV/AIDS, and hepatitis B and C viruses. There could be more communicable diseases for which they are tested.

Syphilis was never completely eliminated. In the past it was called "the great impersonator" because it could resemble so many other diseases depending on its stage of progression.

There has been a notable disregard in the homosexual and bisexual population of the practices that constitute "safe sex", especially since the development of the newer drugs to treat HIV/AIDS.

For all of their supposed sophistication, many of these ignorant folks don't understand that it's a chronic, progressive, fatal disease that has no cure or promissing vaccine on the horizon. Not only that, they seem to think it's everybody else's fault.
50 posted on 11/20/2003 11:18:37 PM PST by neverdem (Say a prayer for New York both for it's lefty statism and the probability the city will be hit again)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: concerned about politics
Oh puke!

Er, yes, the open sores. I am very glad this isn't an illustrated article.

51 posted on 11/20/2003 11:28:05 PM PST by BlackVeil
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: unix
I haven't found a link yet. The issue is politically incorrect, and a little dangerous to report. The article I read said Group "A" Streptococcus is not a new bacteria, however, a slight change or mutation has recently occurred in a strain of the Group "A" Streptococcus. It said something about a triple protein mutation. Just enough to change it. It said it started in the intestinal track because of dead (torn) tissue.
Still searching, but it's late here. I need the right key words. ARG! I should have bookmarked it!
52 posted on 11/20/2003 11:41:45 PM PST by concerned about politics ( "Satire". It's Just "Satire.".......So it is.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: WackyKat
" You can get it off a toilet seat too, you know. "

I know ...but I never sit on strange toilet seats outside of my home unless it is a hotel in which case they have been sanitized , at least at the hotels I stay at in Japan .
53 posted on 11/20/2003 11:45:53 PM PST by sushiman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: unix
In Chicago Daly is increasing funding to
combat AIDS.(yeah sure) There are more health problems than just syphillis when it comes to homos. This city spent $600,000 to innoculate homos against menegitis. It just happens that an out break of menegitis occurred within the homo comunity notably along the Halstead St. corridor of homo bars. Meanwhile the city council is creating new ways to gouge the rest of us for cash. The press gleafully shows two queer guys receiving free shots for menegitis serum. Oh, happy happy! Little wonder why families leave .
54 posted on 11/20/2003 11:58:34 PM PST by ChiMark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: neverdem
...particularly among gay and bisexual men,...

All could be solved if all fifty states allowed marriages between homosexual men.

The men would stay home and watch the games, while the queer playing the role of wifey would pop corn and flip tops for his husband-figure. There would be no roaming around the bars at night for the odd tumble.

I forgot to tell you: this is a fairy tale.

55 posted on 11/21/2003 5:11:04 AM PST by JesseHousman (Execute Mumia Abu-Jamal)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Mojo
Yeah I know...FNC is pathetic now in the evening. Why can't they spinoff TNC, the Tabloid News Channel? There is a lot more going on in the world that affects us Americans and Michael Jackson and Laci/Scott Peterson CERTAINLY is not it. I could understand 2-3 minutes of coverage per show, but not the entire show.
56 posted on 11/21/2003 5:24:02 AM PST by xrp (Fox News Sucks: ALL LACI PETERSON ALL MICHAEL JACKSON, ALL THE TIME!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: sushiman
Ok, but what's that got to do with me lifting weights? See...I lift.
57 posted on 11/21/2003 5:28:19 AM PST by xrp (Fox News Sucks: ALL LACI PETERSON ALL MICHAEL JACKSON, ALL THE TIME!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: neverdem
The cost of domestic partnerships...will break the health care system for real familes
with children..
Which of course is of little concern to politicians unless it costs them votes...
58 posted on 11/21/2003 5:42:52 AM PST by joesnuffy (Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: neverdem
The doctrine of "Room At The Table," "The Big Tent," A "Rainbow,"and last but not least "Our Diversity Is Our Strength," revealing its consequences.
59 posted on 11/21/2003 5:52:19 AM PST by AEMILIUS PAULUS (Further, the statement assumed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WackyKat
I'd like to give the world a hug
And tell it jokes and stuff
Then pull its pants down to its shoes
And chase it through the rough
I'd tie it up with bonds and straps
And check its purse for change
Then leave it out at the corner bar
With our cousin who's deranged
60 posted on 11/21/2003 5:58:32 AM PST by JesseHousman (Execute Mumia Abu-Jamal)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson