Be careful out there if you are sexually active! Use precautions!Study finds high rate of sexually transmitted infections in transgender women
Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy
By Chris Dall, MA
January 17, 2024Using baseline data from the Leading Innovation for Transgender Women's Health and Empowerment study, which examined HIV incidence and other health outcomes in TGW in six southeastern and eastern US cities (Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Miami, New York, and Washington, DC), a team led by researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health analyzed bacterial STI test results from 1,018 participants. The primary outcome was the prevalence of at least one bacterial STI (gonorrhea, chlamydia, or syphilis) at any anatomic site.
Prevalence higher in those with HIV
The median age of participants was 29 years, 29% were Black, 27% were Hispanic, and 27% had HIV. The overall prevalence of any bacterial STI was 16% but was threefold higher in TGW with HIV (32% vs 11% among those without HIV). After adjustments for age, race and ethnicity, and region, HIV infection remained significantly associated with any bacterial STI (adjusted prevalence ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.39 to 2.62).
Among TGW without HIV, bacterial STI prevalence differed by geographic region, race and ethnicity, and gender identity, and was positively associated with reporting more than 1 sexual partner, hazardous alcohol use, homelessness, having safety concerns regarding transit to healthcare, and no prior receipt of gender-affirming health services. Among TGW with HIV, older age was inversely associated with bacterial STI.
The study authors say the findings underscore the need to develop interventions that are tailored to the unique needs and risks of each population.
The Washington Post write that…
Cases of syphilis, rising nationally, have spiked dramatically among women in Virginia and led to more infections in babies, which can be fatal or cause lifelong medical issues. Cases are also increasing among people who misuse opioids and other drugs, research shows.
[…]
The increase echoes trends that officials are tracking nationally among multiple sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia and gonorrhea.
“We’re trying to triage more resources to the response and kind of organize the way that we’re responding differently, in light of the kind of attention and focus that we’re trying to bring to the increase in syphilis cases,” said Bryan Collins, assistant director of the STD Prevention and Surveillance team at the Virginia Department of Health.
Innerbody reports,
For our 7th annual study of STD rates, based on the latest data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Innerbody Research analyzed statistics on a city-by-city basis and developed our list of the Top 100 cities with the highest STD rates. In this year's report, the city with the highest STD rate was Philadelphia, PA, overtaking Memphis, TN, which moved to 2nd. This, in turn, pushed Jackson, MS from 2nd to 3rd in our rankings.
[…]
Southern cities face challenges
In past years, we've made the worrisome observation that the South, as defined by the Census Bureau, contributes a disproportionate number of metro areas to the upper portions of our rankings in our annual study. Last year, for instance, 14 of the 25 U.S. cities with the highest STD infection rates were in the South. That means a region with roughly 39% of our nation's population contributes over half of the 25 cities with the worst STD infection rates.
But this year, the number of southern cities has risen to 17 of that top 25, or just over two-thirds. This overrepresentation in our study is disturbing. Two of last year's top 5 cities find themselves in nearly the same unenviable position in our latest study:
I have to wonder is banning sex education is the reason for the increase in STIs and STDs in southern states?
However, it is not just STIs and STDs that are on the rise.
CBS Mornings
Science Friday reports that mumps are on the rise,What's causing measles outbreaks? Experts point to vaccination decline, waning herd immunity
By Stephen Stock, Leigh Ann Winick, Sara Moniuszko
January 23, 2024Measles was officially declared eradicated in the U.S. more than 20 years ago, but new outbreaks of the disease are popping up — and experts say declining vaccination rates are jeopardizing herd immunity and increasing the risk.
In Philadelphia, nine cases were reported after a cluster started in a hospital and spread to other medical facilities and a day care center. Measles is a highly contagious and potentially deadly virus that causes a tell-tale rash.
According to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, during the 2021-2022 school year, 94.3% of kindergarteners in Philadelphia County were fully vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Last school year, that dropped to 92.8% — below the 95% needed for herd immunity.
"That's really a wake-up call, because the real number in many communities is probably far below 93%," Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for vaccine development and professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, told CBS News.
He says outbreaks like this one are more likely when vaccination rates drop.
[…]
This is a trend we could see nationwide, as MMR vaccine levels have been dropping over the last few years and now are at 93.1%.
Over the last several years, there have been numerous measles outbreaks cropping up across the country, especially among unvaccinated kids.
What about mumps—that second “m” in the MMR vaccine? Since 2006, there have been mumps outbreaks too. But unlike measles, most of the people getting the mumps are vaccinated. And they’re older too, mostly teens and young adults. New research suggests that the efficacy of the mumps vaccine wanes over time, unlike the ones for measles and rubella.
As the theme song from Monks says, "It's a Jungle Out There"
I believe that all this mistrust over vaccines all started with the right-wing Republicans spreading lies about the COVID vaccines and has spread to vaccines in general.
When I was volunteering at the Hartford Gay & Lesbian Health Collective a patient came with mumps so I got a booster shot for MMR. Are you up to date on your vaccines?
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