S.F. has nation's highest syphilis rate

SFGATE ^ | 11/21/03 | Sabin Russell

[Pikamax]

With a top national ranking it could surely do without, San Francisco has surpassed Detroit as the city with the highest per-capita rate of syphilis in the United States.

Driven by an increase in new cases among gay white men, the nation's syphilis rate rose 9.1 percent in 2002, the second consecutive increase after a decade of decline that had raised hopes the sexually transmitted disease could be eliminated in the country.

[biblewonk]

Chase those bugs.

[A CA Guy]

What will they say now... "Don't ask, don't swell"?

[billorites]

Sour dough bread, Alioto's, Ghiradelli Square, chanker sores...

[Bikers4Bush]

Does having any of these diseases disqualify any of them from adopting or what?

Seems like a health risk for the kids.

[lilylangtree]

Coming from San Francisco, the queer city of the world, now why am I not surprised? (rhetorical question)

[lilylangtree]

Coming from San Francisco, the queer city of the world, now why am I not surprised? (rhetorical question)

[Prime Choice]

Ah, the "dignity" of the "alternative lifestyle"...

I wonder if the syphillis has spread to the hamster population yet. That ought to outrage PETA...

[steplock]

"...Despite a nationwide rise in syphilis cases, particularly among white men..."

I luv it when they LIE!

The above line should honestly read "particularly among HOMOSEXUALS"

HOMOSEXUALS are NOT MEN.

[Servant of the 9]

What a surprise

So9

[concerned about politics]

The land of Sodom? Infected with diseases? Noooo waaaaay! This has got to be noting but a vast right wing conspiracy !

$2 million a year ? They bitch about the (non-existant) cost of second hand smoke of ordinary citizens , yet they generously toss millions at the anus addicts humping in the bathouses? What the.......?
Rehab the addicts. It would save billions! (and allow another tax break)

[The_Pickle]

"When you have your winky covered in dookie 24/7 your bound to pick something up." he says, exhibiting no surprise.

[sheik yerbouty]

"Incurable romantics"

[Wil H]

The rise in cases among gay men around the country has alarmed AIDS prevention experts, because syphilis is transmitted through the same unprotected sexual practices that spread HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In addition, syphilis increases by two to five times the risk of HIV transmission, because the genital sores serve as "portals" for the AIDS virus to enter the bloodstream. In San Francisco during 2002, there were 315 new syphilis cases, for a case rate of 40.6 for every 100,000 residents. That is nearly 20 times the case rate of 2.2 for the nation as a whole.

But, But, I thought that the gay lifestyle had no health risks ! At Least thats's what They tell us...

And don't forget everyone, that if you object to a behavior that is 20 times more likely to cause uncurable debilitating disease then you are clearly a bigot.

[ex-Texan]

Any woman on vacation in S.F. would have to be a total idiot to even consider having a quick affair in 'The City.' Just guessing -- but at least 50% of the single men living in S.F. swing both ways. Perhaps 35% of the married men are also 'double gated.' Just my personal opinion.

Play safe. Do not take any risks in S.F.

[Gerish]

I'M SO SHOCKED!!! San Francisco - the hotbed of disease!

[Ruth A.]

That some things are considered news boggles one's imagination. That money is spent on "research" about such things is beyond ridiculous.

[hattend]

I'm shocked! SHOCKED, I tell ya!

[hattend]

"The job of eliminating syphilis in the United States is not done,'' said Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, a deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Kind of hard to eliminate now, Doctor, when the main propagators of the disease are now considered mainstream instead of mentally ill perverts.

[Mo1]

S.F. has nation's highest syphilis rate Increase of 127% in 2002 moves city from 6th to 1st Sabin Russell, Chronicle Medical Writer Friday, November 21, 2003

Well gee .. there is something to be proud of /s >