"gay cancer" bug

[chipygmalion80]

I've noticed guys on here talking about getting/swapping bugs, and I mean more than HIV, but the latest "gay cancer" news out of NYC is alarming.

They're calling the bug something like "highly infectious meningitis". Huffington Post reported that the last 5 cases killed 3 men. That's a 60% kill rate. Originally the city wanted HIV-positive men to get a vaccine but now they want all men who are sexually active with other men to get it because of it's kill rate. Here's the official link:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/diseases/cdmen.shtml

I probably shouldn't post this here because this meningitis is said to be communicable by contact with the nose and throat -- not bareback sex but even oral sex and probably sharing poppers -- but it's simply alarming that men claim to want bugs on here and obviously aren't thinking of the consequences to themselves or others.

[rawTOP]

Someone who is getting into risky sex should get their vaccines for Hep A&B, HPV, and now meningitis. I know I got my meningitis vaccine last time I went to the doctor's office...

[TattPig]

It's not "gay cancer". It's not cancer at all, and calling it that confuses the issue.

It doesn't have a "60% kill rate". If the last 2 cases killed 2 men, that doesn't mean it has a 100% kill rate.

This is a serious issue and should be addressed seriously and accurately without a lot of histrionics and sensationalism.

We need to look at the big picture. And I do NOT for a minute mean to downplay the seriousness of this, but we need to focus on the reality. There have been 23 cases since 2010, and 7 people (30%) have died. The normal death rate from meningitis is about 20%. The incidence of meningitis does not seem to be higher than normal (given New York's population), but the mortality appears to be.

And the NY Health Department's release, linked to above, has caused more confusion than necessary due to the odd specificities of its recommendations (men "who regularly have intimate contact with other men met through a website, digital application (“App”), or at a bar or party). That is 4 very oddly specific conditions for guys who regularly have intimate contact. Why those four? Is it based only on a small sample (23 cases) that may not be adequate? Should it be more general? Being so specific means that other types of hooking up (bathhouses, book stores, porn theaters, etc.) may be ignored by the target population. I wish they had done a better job with that announcement.

This is serious, and people need to pay attention, get informed, and act accordingly. My only point is that sensationalism should not get in the way of clear thinking.

[Guest JizzDumpWI]

Thanks TattPig for voice of reason. I have my quarterly visit to my local STD clinic tomorrow afternoon. This is a topic I plan to discuss with them; hopefully get some facts.

[totalasspig]

Guys there is a vaccine out there - So don't be a kid about it - Roll up your sleeve or drop your pants and get protected.

[bb1991]

In the UK meningitis is one of the standard vaccinations you get when your a child. I think I was 10 when I was vaccinated.

[TattPig]

John Aravosis, at AMERICAblog-gay, has posted a great detailed summary of the issues. Very readable and lots of information in a short article.

It's a must-read...seriously.

http://americablog.com/2013/04/meningitis-nyc-gay-men-cdc-fact-sheet.html