Close X
Sunday, September 22, 2024
ADVT 
Health

Vegas Outbreak Makes Nevada Syphilis Rate Highest In US West

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Mar, 2016 11:49 AM
    LAS VEGAS — Nevada is experiencing the highest rate of syphilis in the Western U.S. following an outbreak in Las Vegas.
    It's part of a national spike in cases tied to increased testing, a rise in anonymous sex via social media and less consistent use of condoms, health officials say.
     
    Social media's link to syphilis among gay men, which account for a majority of diagnosed cases, has led health officials to take their educational outreach directly to the websites and apps, in some cases creating profiles or buying advertisements.
     
    Here's a closer look at what's going on:
     
    ___
     
    WHAT IS SYPHILIS?
     
    Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that's been around at least since the Roman times, said ?Dr. Tony Fredrick, the Southern Nevada Health District's medical epidemiologist.
     
    It's never really gone away — it just comes in waves. It's detected by blood testing, which means it's not a part of the "bundle" of STDs found through urine screening.
     
    Caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, syphilis spreads through skin-to-skin sexual contact when there's a sore or lesion, typically in the genital or anal areas or mouth.
     
    Symptoms aren't always apparent and can progress for years, even decades, without treatment. In early stages, it's highly treatable with penicillin.
     
    ___
     
    WHAT'S GOING ON IN NEVADA?
     
    Clark County health officials declared an outbreak in Las Vegas last week after noting a 128 per cent increase in reported syphilis cases since 2012 — with 615 of the 694 cases involving men diagnosed last year. This makes Nevada's rate of syphilis the highest in the Western U.S.
     
    There has been an uptick in other parts of Nevada, too, but that could be tied to a population increase, the state health department said. Meanwhile, youth in the state are having sex at younger ages and using condoms inconsistently or improperly.
     
     
     
    WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY?
     
    Syphilis outbreaks have appeared in pockets of the U.S. in recent years, including in Kansas, Pennsylvania and Hawaii.
     
    The latest available data, from 2014, showed a 15 per cent increase in cases overall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. A majority of cases involve men having sex with men.
     
    There's been an increase in other STDs. The most common, chlamydia, has risen to record levels.
     
    ___
     
    WHY ARE DOCTORS BLAMING SOCIAL MEDIA?
     
    Health providers and officials have warned about the prevalence of anonymous sex through social media, particularly with an increase in the use of smartphone apps.
     
    Young people dependent on their iPhones can find quick, easy access to hookups, said Elizabeth Adelman, a senior disease investigator for the health department in Las Vegas. Not meeting in person first can make it harder to negotiate condom use, she said.
     
    ___
     
    WHAT'S BEING DONE TO ADDRESS IT?
     
    Las Vegas officials have been working to connect with various websites and apps. Adelman said they sought permission for a passive presence on platforms such as the gay website Adam4Adam, so users can reach out to them for information. Other popular apps that officials are looking at include Tinder and Grindr.
     
    Adam4Adam said through Twitter that it has live health counsellors and tips available on its website, and it counts some health agencies among its advertisers, including the New York state health department. Tinder and Grindr couldn't be reached for comment.
     
     
    HOW IS THE GAY COMMUNITY RESPONDING?
     
    The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada said the issue has been on its radar. Educational outreach, efforts to de-stigmatize STDs and a push for testing are priorities, said Vince Collins, the centre's HIV prevention services manager.

    MORE Health ARTICLES

    Medications Past Best-before Date May Lose Potency, But How Soon?

    Medications Past Best-before Date May Lose Potency, But How Soon?
    TORONTO — The recall earlier this week of a batch of Alesse birth control pills sold past their expiry date has raised questions about whether it's safe to take over-the-counter and prescription medications beyond their best-before marker — and just how long past?

    Medications Past Best-before Date May Lose Potency, But How Soon?

    Stephen Harper To Meet Hemispheric Leaders In Panama At The Summit Of The Americas

    Stephen Harper To Meet Hemispheric Leaders In Panama At The Summit Of The Americas
    OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper will meet with the Western hemisphere's leaders this weekend when he travels to Panama for the Summit of the Americas.

    Stephen Harper To Meet Hemispheric Leaders In Panama At The Summit Of The Americas

    Ladies! Choose A Marathon Runner For Super Sex Life

    Ladies! Choose A Marathon Runner For Super Sex Life
    Males with greater "reproductive potential" from an evolutionary standpoint are better distance runners and females chose for such athletic endurance while mating in the past, says a research.

    Ladies! Choose A Marathon Runner For Super Sex Life

    Exercise During Pregnancy Benefits Male Offspring More

    Exercise During Pregnancy Benefits Male Offspring More
    Male offspring appear to benefit more than females from the positive effects of exercise during pregnancy, says a new study.

    Exercise During Pregnancy Benefits Male Offspring More

    French Connection: Have Cheese For Super Heart Heal

    French Connection: Have Cheese For Super Heart Heal
    Do you know why the French have low cardiovascular diseases despite having a diet high in saturated fats? It is not because of wine or their lifestyle but another French staple: Cheese and its metabolism.

    French Connection: Have Cheese For Super Heart Heal

    Stressed Wife Can Make Husband's Blood Pressure Go Haywire

    Stressed Wife Can Make Husband's Blood Pressure Go Haywire
    Wives, please take note! Fighting over trivial issues at home can raise your hubby's blood pressure to such an extent that he may suffer heart problems sooner in life.

    Stressed Wife Can Make Husband's Blood Pressure Go Haywire