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CA Assembly addresses STDs

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The California Assembly Health Committee, chaired by 52nd  District Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally, recently held an informational  hearing on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).  The purpose of the  hearing was to provide lawmakers and the public with updated information  about STDs, to highlight alarming increases in STD rates in California,  and to consider strategies for addressing the epidemic.
In his  opening remarks, Assemblyman Dymally said that the data are striking.   At least one in three sexually active Americans will have contracted an  STD by age 24. And there are disproportionately high STD rates among  minorities, especially African Americans. .
In addition, African  Americans chlamydia infection rate is eight times that of whites, and  African Americans gonorrhea rate is 11 times that of whites;  Latinos  and Native Americans are also at much higher risk for STDs than whites;  and; Increasing numbers of gonorrhea cases are antibiotic-resistant. He  reported noting that the condition poses a serious threat to all  Californians.
The hearing highlighted the eight most common  infections that are spread by sexual contact in the United States which  includes; Gonorrhea; Syphilis; Chlamydia; Human Immunodeficiency Virus  (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS);Human Papilloma Virus  (HPV); Genital herpes; Trichomoniasis (trich); and, Hepatitis B.
Because  STDs often do not show symptoms, people often do not realize they are  infected and therefore do not seek testing and treatment or take  precautions to prevent giving the infections to their partners.  Also,  when STDs show not symptoms, the infections remain unknown to health  officials.
Witnesses at the hearing included Dr. Mark Horton, State  Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of  Public Health (DPH), and the chiefs of the DPH Division of Communicable  Disease Control and Office of AIDS.
DPH provided testimony on the  increasing incidence of STDs, who is at greatest risk, and what DPH  currently does to control STDs.  Representatives of the California  Conference of Local Health Officers and the STD Controllers Association  discussed causes of the epidemic, what is now being done, and what needs  to be done to bring STDs under control.
Researchers from the  University of California and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and  Science discussed current research on STDs and how to better control  STDs.  Physicians and health care agencies such as Planned Parenthood of  Los Angeles, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and the Family Health  Council provided testimony about the services they offer and the effects  of STDs.  Finally, advocates highlighted innovative and effective  programs to reduce the burden of STDs.
California now spends about 37  cents per resident on STD prevention and control. Budget constraints  over many decades have eroded STD prevention and control services and  contributed to increases in the most common and preventable STDs.  The  health consequences of STDs can be significant.  For example, chlamydia  infections cause female and male infertility and increase the likelihood  that a person will also become infected with HIV.
It was reported  that the Harbor Freeway corridor in South Los Angeles has some of the  highest HIV/AIDS and other STD infection rates in the state.
For more  information about STDs, individuals are urged to contact their local  health department, school clinics, or Dymallys Assembly Office in  Compton at (310) 223-1201.

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