Drug-Resistant Gonorrhea Going Global

[Fickloch]

The United Nations health agency said on Wednesday that drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea have spread to countries through out the world.

The U.N. said millions of patients may run out of treatment options unless doctors are able to catch and treat the dug-resistant strains.

Last year, scientists reported finding a “superbug” strain of gonorrhea in Japan in 2008 that was resistant to antibiotics. Those scientists warned that it could transform gonorrhea into a global threat.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said countries including Australia, France, Norway, Sweden and Britain are reporting cases of drug-resistant gonorrhea.

“Gonorrhoea is becoming a major public health challenge,” Manjula Lusti-Narasimhan, from the WHO’s department of reproductive health and research, said in a statement.

Lusti-Narasimhan said over 106 million people are newly infected with the sexually transmitted disease every year.

“The organism is what we term a superbug – it has developed resistance to virtually every class of antibiotics that exists,” she told a briefing in Geneva. “If gonococcal infections become untreatable, the health implications are significant.”

Source: redOrbit (http://s.tt/1dw8P)

[BiAggieGuy]

Just lovely.

Hopefully the new antibiotics under development are done testing soon, but unless doctors stop over prescribing them, the same thing will happen yet again.

[totalasspig]

Years ago, Gonorrhea was treated with penicillin shots in the ass - it was about 15 years ago they switched to pills -- Pills do NOTHING...One way to cure it, as has been the case for me and all my STD's, has been penicillin shots in the ass - and sometimes a 48 hour IV Drip -- Yea, I know that REALLY sucks...but as I say "You play raw, you pay". They were talking about drug recent Gono and Syph before AIDS in the late 70's - but it never happened. Don't believe everything "WHO" tells you.

[pozdanny]

Please check this out

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47704210/ns/health-health_care/t/untreatable-gonorrhea-spreading-worldwide/

I am not one of those, prophets of doom, trying to scare people. I do believe, however, that knowledge is power. I am just posting this in hopes that people make informed decisions, if that is part of the choice. Personally, I like to have steady Raw POZ fuck buddies. I have found that POZ guys in treatment are less likely to carry other diseases, since most poz people in the States receive routine medical attention. Whatever you decide to do, I encourage you to at least know what's out there, in hopes that your choices translate into a more satisfying and long fun life.

LONDON — A potentially dangerous sexually transmitted disease that infects millions of people each year is growing resistant to drugs and could soon become untreatable, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.

Scientists reported last year finding a "superbug" strain of gonorrhea in Japan in 2008 that was resistant to all recommended antibiotics and warned then that it could transform a once easily treatable infections into a global health threat.

"This organism has basically been developing resistance against every medication we've thrown at it," said Dr. Manjula Lusti-Narasimhan, a scientist in the agency's department of sexually transmitted diseases. This includes a group of antibiotics called cephalosporins currently considered the last line of treatment.

"In a couple of years it will have become resistant to every treatment option we have available now," she told The Associated Press in an interview ahead of WHO's public announcement on its 'global action plan' to combat the disease.

The WHO said those fears are now reality with many more countries, including Australia, France, Norway, Sweden and Britain, reporting cases of the sexually transmitted disease resistant to cephalosporin antibiotics.

"Gonorrhea is becoming a major public health challenge," said Manjula Lusti-Narasimhan, from the WHO's department of reproductive health and research. She said more than 106 million people are newly infected with the disease every year.

"The organism is what we term a superbug -- it has developed resistance to virtually every class of antibiotics that exists," she told a briefing in Geneva. "If gonococcal infections become untreatable, the health implications are significant."

Gonorrhea is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection which, if left untreated, can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths, severe eye infections in babies, and infertility in both men and women.

Once considered a scourge of sailors and soldiers, gonorrhea — known colloquially as the clap — became easily treatable with the discovery of penicillin. Now, it is again the second most common sexually transmitted infection after chlamydia. The global health body estimates that of the 498 million new cases of curable sexually transmitted infections worldwide, gonorrhea is responsible for some 106 million infections annually. It also increases the chances of infection with other diseases, such as HIV.

It is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world and is most prevalent in south and southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. In the United States alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of cases is estimated at around 700,000 a year.

The WHO called for greater vigilance on the correct use of antibiotics and more research into alternative treatments for so-called gonococcal infections.

The emergence of drug-resistant or superbug strains of gonorrhea is caused by unregulated access to and overuse of antibiotics, which helps fuel natural genetic mutations within the bacteria.

Experts say an added problem with gonorrhea is that its strains tend to retain their genetic resistance to previous antibiotics even after their use has been discontinued.

Major producers of antibiotics for gonorrhea include global drug making giants GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Abbott, as well as Indian firms like Cipla.

The WHO said it is not yet clear how far or wide drug resistance in gonorrhea has spread, as many countries lack reliable data. "The available data only shows the tip of the iceberg," said Lusti-Narasimhan.

"Without adequate surveillance we won't know the extent of resistance...and without research into new antimicrobial agents there could soon be no effective treatment for patients."

'Like passing razor blades'

Francis Ndowa, formerly the WHO's lead specialist for sexually transmitted infections, said gonorrhea has not only adapted to elude antibiotics but developed less painful symptoms, increasing its survival chances.

"They used to say that if you have urethral gonorrhea you go to the toilet to pass urine, it would be like passing razor blades. It was that painful," he explained. "Now people with gonorrhea sometimes...only notice the discharge if they look when they pass urine, it's not that painful anymore.

"So the organism has readjusted itself to provide fewer symptoms so that it can survive longer. It's an amazing interaction between man and pathogen."

Experts say the best way to reduce the risk of even greater resistance developing - beyond the urgent need to develop effective new drugs - is to treat gonorrhea with combinations of two or more types of antibiotic at the same time.

This technique is used in the treatment of some other infections like tuberculosis in an attempt to make it more difficult for the bacteria to learn how to conquer the drugs.

Gonorrhea can be prevented through safer sexual intercourse. The WHO said early detection and prompt treatment, including of sexual partners, is essential to control sexually transmitted infections.

[fuckholedc]

Jump forward to the present (and a jump over multiple years of warning about drug resistant gonorrhea) : 

[think before following links] [think before following links] https://www.washingtonblade.com/2023/09/05/cases-of-multi-drug-resistant-gonorrhea-super-strain-multiply/

 

Quote

Cases of multi-drug resistant gonorrhea ‘super strain’ multiply

CDC and WHO have once again sounded alarm about STI

Quote

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with the World Health Organization  are raising red flags for the second time this year as cases multiply of a “super strain” of drug-resistant gonorrhea globally, but particularly among men who have sex with men. 

This strain of gonorrhea has been previously seen in Asia-Pacific countries and in the U.K., but not in the U.S. A genetic marker common to two Massachusetts residents and previously seen in a case in Nevada, retained sensitivity to at least one class of antibiotics. Overall, these cases are an important reminder that strains of gonorrhea in the U.S. are becoming less responsive to a limited arsenal of antibiotics.

Gonorrhea is a STI with most people affected between ages 15-49 years. Antimicrobial resistance in gonorrhea has increased rapidly in recent years and has reduced the options for treatment.

Last February, cases of XDR, or “extensively drug resistant,” gonorrhea, are on the rise in the U.S., the CDC said.

  

....

 

Edited November 11, 2023 by fuckholedc

[Guest]

On 7/4/2012 at 6:01 AM, pozdanny said:

"So the organism has readjusted itself to provide fewer symptoms so that it can survive longer. It's an amazing interaction between man and pathogen."

Really interesting. Ty.

[BootmanLA]

The thing to remember is that this isn't some conscious act on the part of the pathogen; rather, it's simple evolutionary pressure. The variations that produce fewer or less intense symptoms go undetected, and thus survive because they're not treated. I suppose in the sense that man applies the treatment pressure, that's "interaction", but it's certainly not conscious interaction on the part of the pathogen.

[brnbk]

If only governments and the pharmaceutical industry that they enable, would act as soon as the problem starts without waiting until it become a nightmare- we would be in a much better place. 

 Sadly many governments are still stuck in moralistic judgements at disease especially sexually transmitted diseases and seem to lack the Will to Act.  The historical record of the US government in dealing with the HIV-Aids crisis is something we need to keep in mind. 

LGBTQ organizations needs to demand greater actions for our respective governments. To quote that powerful phrase, those who fought resiliently when AIDS was devastating the gay world - Silence equals Death. 

 

 

[TaKinGDeePanal]

On 1/3/2024 at 1:28 PM, brnbk said:

If only governments and the pharmaceutical industry that they enable, would act as soon as the problem starts without waiting until it become a nightmare- we would be in a much better place. 

 Sadly many governments are still stuck in moralistic judgements at disease especially sexually transmitted diseases and seem to lack the Will to Act.  The historical record of the US government in dealing with the HIV-Aids crisis is something we need to keep in mind. 

LGBTQ organizations needs to demand greater actions for our respective governments. To quote that powerful phrase, those who fought resiliently when AIDS was devastating the gay world - Silence equals Death. 

 

 

At least the US Govt (at the moment) doesn't bar immigration for those with HIV. However, Australia bans anyone who has HIV from either holding a work visa or immigrating. I checked a couple of weeks ago just in case I was knocked up between now and potentially meeting someone over there and then trying to relocate.

Edited January 15 by TaKinGDeePanal

[brnbk]

I went and checked their website, just to make sure it is true, coz it sounds like something from 2002 and not 2024!

Yes, you are right: the Australian government requires anyone above 15 yrs of age and wanting to relocate to Australia to be tested for HIV. I can't believe that a western government could follow such a shameless, ruthless,  inhumane and homophobic policy. 

I wonder what the HIV experts  esp. gay-rights advocates have to say on this issue.  Being gay is SUCH a  difficult thing to deal with in Asia, and most Asian gay men, including east, west and south Asians always hope to escape to a western country where they can live their lives in peace. I always thought Australia was a bastion of gay rights and freedoms in the Asia-Pacific but finding out about this policy of theirs, has dented their image in my eyes. 

It is time to hold them accountable for this blatantly homophobic law. 

[TaKinGDeePanal]

36 minutes ago, brnbk said:

I went and checked their website, just to make sure it is true, coz it sounds like something from 2002 and not 2024!

Yes, you are right: the Australian government requires anyone above 15 yrs of age and wanting to relocate to Australia to be tested for HIV. I can't believe that a western government could follow such a shameless, ruthless,  inhumane and homophobic policy. 

I wonder what the HIV experts  esp. gay-rights advocates have to say on this issue.  Being gay is SUCH a  difficult thing to deal with in Asia, and most Asian gay men, including east, west and south Asians always hope to escape to a western country where they can live their lives in peace. I always thought Australia was a bastion of gay rights and freedoms in the Asia-Pacific but finding out about this policy of theirs, has dented their image in my eyes. 

It is time to hold them accountable for this blatantly homophobic law. 

They don't even recognise First Nations people in the Constitution (60% voted against it in October last year).

In addition to ensuring that PrEP is readily available and relatively cheap (about $7 for 2 months supply if you are low-income), there are a number of things that Australia has actually done right. Hopefully, the moral injustice done towards HIV+ will eventually be rectified:
[think before following links] https://www.moadoph.gov.au/explore/stories/history/8-hard-won-rights-for-lgbti-australians

[Poz50something]

1 hour ago, brnbk said:

 

Yes, you are right: the Australian government requires anyone above 15 yrs of age and wanting to relocate to Australia to be tested for HIV. I can't believe that a western government could follow such a shameless, ruthless,  inhumane and homophobic policy. 

I wonder what the HIV experts  esp. gay-rights advocates have to say on this issue.  Being gay is SUCH a  difficult thing to deal with in Asia.... 

.....and so does the Canadian government. If there's a procedure to enact when someone is found to be HIV+, there's definitely a test for it during screening for permanent residence. I found out in 2004, that I was when the blood test results came back. I thought Immigration Canada was going to bar me, but here I am, more than 15 years a Canadian citizen. It's not a bar to receiving permanent residence and living here, but it could very well be. 

 

[Partyleather]

18 minutes ago, brnbk said:

I went and checked their website, just to make sure it is true, coz it sounds like something from 2002 and not 2024!

Yes, you are right: the Australian government requires anyone above 15 yrs of age and wanting to relocate to Australia to be tested for HIV. I can't believe that a western government could follow such a shameless, ruthless,  inhumane and homophobic policy. 

I wonder what the HIV experts  esp. gay-rights advocates have to say on this issue.  Being gay is SUCH a  difficult thing to deal with in Asia, and most Asian gay men, including east, west and south Asians always hope to escape to a western country where they can live their lives in peace. I always thought Australia was a bastion of gay rights and freedoms in the Asia-Pacific but finding out about this policy of theirs, has dented their image in my eyes. 

It is time to hold them accountable for this blatantly homophobic law. 

Mind you though that they require anyone who is older than 15 years old to be tested regardless of the person’s gender and sexual orientation, so it is not exactly homophobic. 

[brnbk]

12 hours ago, Poz50something said:

.....and so does the Canadian government. If there's a procedure to enact when someone is found to be HIV+, there's definitely a test for it during screening for permanent residence. I found out in 2004, that I was when the blood test results came back. I thought Immigration Canada was going to bar me, but here I am, more than 15 years a Canadian citizen. It's not a bar to receiving permanent residence and living here, but it could very well be. 

Thanks for filling us in! I had no clue... about this disgusting policy. 

 

This is from their website -   Canadian Government HIV Surveillance Alert

General overview of the policy

All permanent resident applicants who are 15 years of age or older, as well as children who have certain risk factors, such as having received blood or blood products, having a mother living with known HIV or showing failure to thrive are required to undergo an HIV test as part of the medical examination.

As part of this medical examination, the responsible panel physician will provide post-test counselling to applicants who test positive for HIV as per the Canadian Panel Member Guide to Immigration Medical Examinations. The panel physician will have the applicant sign the Acknowledgement of HIV post-test counselling form [IMM 5728E (PDF, 528.39 KB)].

HIV positivity does not make a client inadmissible due to public health concern. In some cases, it may lead to inadmissibility if their health care costs would exceed the excessive demand threshold.

 

 

Since when did having a HIV mom, make a child a "risk factor" to the Canadian government and Canada ! Such a discriminatory and stupid policy needs to be thrown in the dustbin right away. HIV Positive people contribute to society far more than what circumstances has challenged them with, and all these inflated costs are any way a big money gain for big pharma companies anyways and is not a sufficient reason to justify such a discriminatory policy. It reeks of Nazism- separating the abled from the disdifferently abled towards and end that could harm their well-being. 

 

[brnbk]

 

 

17 hours ago, TaKinGDeePanal said:

At least the US Govt (at the moment) doesn't bar immigration for those with HIV. However, Australia bans anyone who has HIV from either holding a work visa or immigrating. I checked a couple of weeks ago just in case I was knocked up between now and potentially meeting someone over there and then trying to relocate.

yup. Since 2010, the United States has removed all anti-HIV discriminatory laws from the immigration process. wohoo! 🌹

Final Rule Removing HIV Infection from U.S. Immigration Screening :

Additionally, effective January 4, 2010, CBP officers shall not consider a lack of HIV test results when making a determination of admissibility on an arriving immigrant or refugee.