Internet blamed in spread of syphilis among gays

Reuters ^

[Peter J. Huss]

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - The Internet has played a significant role in the latest increase in cases of syphilis among gay men by introducing partners more likely to practice high-risk sex, according to a study released on Wednesday.

About 22 percent of homosexual men diagnosed with early stage syphilis reported meeting one or more of their sexual partners through the Internet around the time they were infected, said the study by the Los Angeles Health Department.

Researchers at a national conference in Philadelphia on the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases also said they found gays who used the Web to meet sex partners were almost four times as likely to have anonymous sex than non-Internet users. They were also more than twice as likely to use injected drugs as those who found partners more traditionally.

Of gay men who met their partners online, 67 percent were HIV positive, according to the study.

"The Internet is an important venue for conducting STD/HIV prevention and control," said Dr. Getahun Aynalem, an author of the Los Angeles Health Department study.

"Potential public health prevention and control efforts should include interventions like online outreach."

The Internet was one of a number of factors contributing to the rise in syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases among gay men, Aynalem said. Other contributors included the increasing use of the recreational drug crystal methamphetamine and the erectile dysfunction medication Viagra.

Nationally, the incidence of reported syphilis has increased by 18 percent in the last three years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For male homosexuals it has multiplied 12-fold.

Between 1999 and 2003, the proportion of all U.S. syphilis cases among gay men jumped to 60 percent from 5 percent.

The Los Angeles research found that men who went online to find sex partners were more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior than those who found partners elsewhere. For example, of those who said they were the dominant partner in anal sex, 91 percent were Internet users compared with 80 percent who were non-browsers.

The Web can also help control the spread of STDs, researchers said. Online, partners can be notified of a person's sexual history and chat rooms where health counselors can discuss STD prevention and control can be set up.

[Peter J. Huss]

As the headline suggest, the internet is a common mode of virual transmission.

That's why I always spray the keyboard with Lysol when I use the computers at the library.

[Crazieman]

What about SUVs? They have to work that in somewhere.

[Chewbacca]

Are they all having sex with the same computer or something?

[HELLRAISER II]

And here I thought it was caused by unprotected sex with sexual deviants, what was I thinking?

[Feckless]

need a better firewall

[dagoofyfoot]

Don't even think about buying into this lie!


Everyone with half a brain knows this is Bush's fault! (sarcasm)

[kevao]

I'd better update my Symantec.

[Peter J. Huss]

And here I thought it was caused by unprotected sex with sexual deviants, what was I thinking? Nope. Totally wrong. You see, it's the mysterious internet. Just like it's the evil SUVs and the evil guns.

[t1b8zs]

Internet blamed in spread of syphilis among gays,
IGNORANCE & STUPIDITY blamed in spread of syphilis among gays

[Peter J. Huss]

I heard that if you use the internet 3 times, you use the internet for life!

Not that I would know. Someone told me.

[JimRed]

DEATH WISH 6: BUG CHASER

[HELLRAISER II]

Yeah those Guns & SUV's are waiting on every corner just waiting to kill somebody, somebody should do something about that.

[babyface00]

Another 100% preventable disease explosively spreading due to reckless promiscuity. (and this is no criticism of homosexuality per se, which is an entirely different discussion).

In a free society, these idiots would simply have to live with the consequences of their decisions. However, in the society we live in now, those of us who actually are responsible with our lives, have to forfeit our current and future earnings to subsidize the treatment of these sluts.

I'm sick of it.

[jammer]

Somehow, I thought the organism was trasnmitted during [usually] sexual contact. Hmmm. A new vector? Or is the increase due to an increase in promiscuity?

Just remember one thing: you and I paid for these "researchers" with tax dollars. When I hear, "a study shows . . . ", my eyes glaze. That almost always means that I am either about to hear something a five-year old knows or that I am about to hear something so counter-intuitive and logically flawed that it doesn't deserve attention.

[gathersnomoss]

What are these happy people doing with their mouse?

[t1b8zs]

those of us who actually are responsible with our lives, have to forfeit our current and future earnings to subsidize the treatment of these sluts.
Excellent point never gave it consideration...now iam really disturbed

[Rebelbase]

Gore's fault.

[t1b8zs]

thought they used hampsters

[non-anonymous]

error: invalid port

[Peter J. Huss]

What are these happy people doing with their mouse?

If anyone knows the answer to this question....

[woofie]

Doesnt Al Gore have something to do with all this?

[Peter J. Huss]

error: invalid port Exactly my thoughts.

[FormerLib]

Riiiiight, the Internet just made them achieve the rewards of their perversion within their own bodies.

[CatoRenasci]

I can just see the headline 30 years ago:

Newspapers Blamed in Spread of Syphillus
Over 70% of Gay men with the dreaded disease met their multiple partners in Bathhouses which advertised in the Advocate.....

or Public Parks and Bathrooms Blamed in Spread of Syphillus
Recent studies revealed that many of the homosexuals arrested for deviant behavior by the vice squad have Syphillus. Of those with Syphillus, almost 100% were arrested soliciting other homosexuals in public parks and in the bathrooms therein. Such parks and bathrooms are therefore a public health menace and should be closed immediately!

[FormerLib]

Go lemmings, go!

[t1b8zs]

I can see where this thread is headed............

any one have the radio clip about "Kooder the hampster"?
quite funny I will try to find it and put it up later

[gathersnomoss]

Funny...

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

The headline writer has a virus!!!!!

[observer5]

Bush's fault!

[bondjamesbond]

I thought outsorcing was the reason for this increase in STDs. Either that or SUVs. Have you ever noticed that SUV is STD spelled sideways?... sorta.

[EdReform]

Ping

What We Can Do To Help Defeat the "Gay" Agenda

Homosexual Agenda: Categorical Index of Links (Version 1.1)

The Stamp of Normality

[laotzu]

I have an opticle mouse, 'cuz it likes to watch.

[laotzu]

"syphilis cases among gay men jumped to 60 percent"

60%!!!!

[scripter]

Thanks for the ping. The database has been updated to include this article.

[philosofy123]

HBO's Curb Your Enthusiam show, with Larry David had a plot when Larry was going to have sex with a Hassedic Jewish woman, they asked him to bring a sheet with a hole in it. They are not allowed to touch! It was a very funny thing about protective sex, and Hassedics.

[RSmithOpt]

So, is that the only STD that jumped for gay america online?

Bad....bad....naughty computer

Daschole is deeply saddened

[mhking]

Gotta clean that mouse and keyboard out...

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[EdReform]

You're welcome! I just posted a links update to your "Categorical Index of Links" thread.

[SquirrelKing]

Ban Al Gore! He invented the internet!

[cajungirl]

well, if the internet did it, it is a good thing we discriminate against poor people by not giving them free computers and free access otherwise they would all have it too.

[cajungirl]

Or am I being elitist by thinking only rich people get stds and stuff. Like only rich people are entitled.

[rudypoot]

Do I have to wear condoms on my fingers now?

[Born Conservative]

Do I have to wear condoms on my fingers now?

Latex gloves should do the trick.

[BaBaStooey]

The Los Angeles Health Department says syphillis is transmitted because of the Internet.

I tend to think that it gets transmitted because of gay sex.

[LauraJean]

It must be those pop-up ads.

[kennedy]

Amazing! I never new that you could catch syphilis from the Internet. Will my virus scan software block it?