Irish Ignoring Danger of Sex Diseases As Infections Soar
Posted on: Thursday, 3 November 2005, 06:01 CST
By JOANNE McELGUNN
IRELAND is in the grip of a sex disease epidemic but is ignoring the dangers, shock figures revealed yesterday.
The number of infections rose by 12.1 per cent last year while gonorrhoea rates rose a staggering 45.2 per cent.
A total of 10,695 people tested positive for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) last year, up from 9,538 in 2003, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
Yesterday it warned having an STI increases the risk of HIV.
Specialist in Public Health Medicine Dr Mary Cronin said: "The prevention messages have never been more important as there is no cure for HIV, although with advances in treatment more people are living with the infection.
"Early diagnosis and treatment are essential if we are to control the spread of infections."
Dr Cronin said many STIs have no symptoms and more than seven out of 10 women infected with chlamydia may not realise they are in need of treatment.
She added: "STIs can have devastating consequences for people's health and fertility if undiagnosed."
The figures show the most common infection is genital warts, (4,174 cases) followed by chlamydia (2,803) and non-specific urethritis (2,746).
A total of 270 people tested positive for gonorrhoea - up 45.2 per cent on the 2003 figure.
The HSPC warned that infection with some types of genital warts "can lead to invasive cervical cancer and other cancers of the ano- genital tract". Dr Cronin said: "I would urge those who are sexually active to practice safe sex. If a person feels they have put themselves at risk they should get checked out by a GP or clinic."
The data for last year shows a decrease in the number contracting Hepatitis B, falling from 112 in 2003 to 85 in 2004.
Syphilis cases also fell by 38.7 per cent in 2004 compared to 2003.
Source: Daily Mirror
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