Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among long-distance truck drivers in Tongling, China.

Little is known about sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, among truck drivers in China. A cross-sectional study was conducted among truck drivers in Tongling of Anhui Province. A total of 550 truck drivers were interviewed with a structured questionnaire, and blood samples were collected and tested for HIV, syphilis, and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), and urine specimens for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. Prevalence was 10.6% for C. trachomatis and 8.1% for N. gonorrhoeae. Antibodies for syphilis were found in 0.7% and for HSV-2 in 4.4%, and none was positive for HIV. About 92 (17.4%) truck drivers had at least one STI. There was no statistically significant association between sociodemographic, occupation or behavioural variables and the presence of a positive test for any STI. Our study suggests a high prevalence of STIs, particularly bacterial infections, among the truck drivers, indicating the need for health education, behavioural change interventions and STI care services in this population.

Sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers in Yunnan, China.

A cross-sectional prevalence survey of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was conducted among female sex workers (FSWs) in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. A total of 505 FSWs participated in the survey. All eligible participants gave informed consent. Demographic, behavioral, and clinical information of the participants was gathered by direct structured interviews. Tampon swabs were collected to test for Chlamydia trachomatis, Nesseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis and serum specimens were collected to test for HIV antibody by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening and Western blot confirmation, syphilis with rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and T. pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA) confirmation, and for HSV-2 antibodies with the HerpeSelect 2 ELISA. The most prevalent bacterial STI was Chlamydia trachomatis (58.6%), followed by Trichomonas vaginalis (43.2%) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (37.8%). Three hundred twenty-seven (65.1%) sex workers had serologic evidence of exposure to HSV-2 infection. Ten percent were positive for HIV infection, all injecting drug users (IDUs); and 9.5% had infection with syphilis. Comprehensive prevention and effective STI services for sex workers and their clients will be the key strategies to the control of STIs, including HIV. Policies and prevention strategies for STI/HIV need to focus on high-risk subpopulations, such as sex workers (particularly sex workers who inject drugs) and their clients.

Global perspectives for prevention of infectious diseases associated with mass gatherings.

We assess risks of communicable diseases that are associated with mass gatherings (MGs), outline approaches to risk assessment and mitigation, and draw attention to some key challenges encountered by organisers and participants. Crowding and lack of sanitation at MGs can lead to the emergence of infectious diseases, and rapid population movement can spread them across the world. Many infections pose huge challenges to planners of MGs; however, these events also provide an opportunity to engage in public health action that will benefit host communities and the countries from which participants originate.

The revised global yellow fever risk map and recommendations for vaccination, 2010: consensus of the Informal WHO Working Group on Geographic Risk for Yellow Fever.

The changing epidemiology of yellow fever and continued reports of rare but serious adverse events associated with yellow fever vaccine have drawn attention to the need to revisit criteria for the designation of areas with risk for yellow fever virus activity, and to revise the vaccine recommendations for international travel. WHO convened a working group of international experts to review factors important for the transmission of yellow fever virus and country-specific yellow fever information, to establish criteria for additions to or removal from the list of countries with risk for yellow fever virus transmission, to update yellow fever risk maps, and to revise the recommendations for vaccination for international travel. This report details the recommendations made by the working group about criteria for the designation of risk and specific changes to the classification of areas with risk for transmission of yellow fever virus.

Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among antenatal women in Vanuatu, 1999-2000.

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV in Vanuatu is poorly defined. GOAL: The goal was to determine the prevalence of laboratory-confirmed gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, syphilis seroreactivity, and HIV among pregnant women in Vila, Vanuatu. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey of 547 pregnant women attending a first-visit antenatal hospital clinic in Vila. Laboratory testing included polymerase chain reaction on tampons for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis; testing of sera for syphilis with rapid plasmid reagin; and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for HIV. RESULTS: The prevalence of trichomoniasis was 27.5% (150); of chlamydia, 21.5% (117); of gonorrhea, 5.9% (32); and of syphilis, 13 (2.4%). No HIV cases were detected; 214 women (40%) had > or =1 STI. Young age and single marital status were both significantly associated with infection (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Chlamydial infection and trichomoniasis are hyperendemic among pregnant women in Vila. Young, single women are at greatest risk for infection.