XPost: alt.politics.miserable-failure, alt.journalism.gay-press, alt.politics.greens
XPost: alt.dislocated.ass

The number of sexually transmitted infections being spread in
gay men is soaring, according to Public Health England.

Figures for 2014 showed a 46% increase in syphilis infections,
32% in gonorrhoea and 26% in chlamydia.

The report said there were "high levels of condomless sex" in
general and "rapid" transmission of infections in HIV-positive
men.

Public Health England recommends regular STI testing.

Across all groups in England, the number of sexually transmitted
infections fell by 0.3% from the previous year, to 439,243 new
cases.

Chlamydia was the most common STI, accounting for nearly half of
all diagnoses.

But there is a very different picture in men who have sex with
men:

Syphilis infections increased from 2,375 to 3,477

Gonorrhoea increased from 13,629 to 18,029

Chlamydia diagnoses increased from 9,118 to 11,468

Genital warts increased by 10% from 3,156 to 3,456

Gonorrhoea is one of the biggest worries because of the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of the infection, which are very
hard to treat.

Dr Gwenda Hughes, the head of STI surveillance at Public Health
England, said: "The stats published today show that too many
people are getting STIs, reducing this spread must be a public
health priority.

"We are particularly concerned about the large rises in
diagnoses among gay men."

The report said high levels of sex without a condom "probably
account for most of this rise", but it also drew attention to
the rapid spread of infections "in dense sexual networks of HIV-
positive men who have sex with men".

Dr Hughes added: "Health promotion and education to increase
risk awareness and encourage safer sexual behaviour remain the
cornerstones of STI prevention.

"Ensuring easy access to sexual health services and STI
screening is a vital component in the control of STIs."

Gay men are advised to have HIV and STI testing every year, or
every three months if they have sex without a condom or with
casual partners.

Public Health England adds that all sexually active under-25-
year-olds should have a chlamydia test each year and whenever
they have a new sexual partner.

Dr Michael Brady, the medical director of the Terrence Higgins
Trust, said: "The continued rise in both syphilis and gonorrhoea
is a worry and evidence that we still have much to do to address
the nation's poor sexual health and rates of STIs in those most
at risk.

"We should make better use of new technologies and approaches -
local awareness raising through targeted social media based on
the geographical breakdown of the data we are seeing today and
an offer online testing - to reach those who are not accessing
'traditional' services".

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-33237995
 

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)