From: MPetrelis@aol.com Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000 11:59:43 EDT Subject: Kaiser: Rectal Gonorrhea Level in SF Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report April 13, 2000 Kaiser: Rectal Gonorrhea Level in SF OPINIONMAKERS Item 7. SAN FRANCISCO: Rectal Gonorrhea Among Gay Men Is Leveling Off According to the San Francisco Department of Public Health, rectal gonorrhea may be stabilizing among San Francisco gay men, asserts www.AIDS-Statistics.com Project Director Michael Petrelis, responding to recent claims that rectal gonorrhea rates are on the rise in San Francisco. The February issue of the health department's San Francisco Monthly STD Report found that there were 160 cases of male rectal gonorrhea recorded in 1999 and 158 cases in 1998. Petrelis points out that in an editorial note accompanying the statistics, Charlotte Kent of the San Francisco STD Control Branch said, "The total number of reported cases of gonorrhea has declined by about 15% since 1998. With only two more cases of rectal gonorrhea reported than in 1998, rectal gonorrhea may be leveling in San Francisco." Noting that syphilis cases also appeared to be stable between 1998 and 1999, Kent concluded, "Overall, the provisional data suggest that STD rates in San Francisco were relatively stable in 1999, with no major increases of any reportable STD." Petrelis said, "It is a slur upon gay males in San Francisco to claim gonorrhea rates for this community are going up, especially since epidemiological facts clearly show otherwise" (www.AIDS-Statistics.com release, 4/11). (Back to Contents) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- The Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report is published for The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation by National Journal Group Inc. © 2000 by National Journal Group Inc., 1501 M St., N.W., Washington, DC 20005. All rights reserved. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Michael Petrelis Welcome to AIDS-STATISTICS www.AIDS-statistics.com 2215-R Market Street, #413 San Francisco, CA 94114