Maine: Officials Sound Warning on STD

A recent spate of cases of the rare STD lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) in several major US cities — including four suspected cases in Boston -- has Portland public health officials worried. "Four cases in Boston makes me think we're right around the corner," said Dr. Ann Lemire.

Last fall, after several European nations -- including the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and Sweden -- reported outbreaks of LGV, CDC asked US clinicians to report suspected infections. Since then, six men have been diagnosed with the disease - three in San Francisco, two in New York City and one in Atlanta. Most of the men were also HIV-positive. Confirmation of the four Boston cases is pending tests by CDC, said Lemire.

In response, Portland's Department of Health and Human Services recently held one of Maine's first discussions on LGV. In April's state Bureau of Health newsletter, Maine Epi-gram, public health experts ran an article titled "LGV Resurgence Among Gay and Bisexual Men." Clinicians are asked to notify the state if they suspect an LGV case; it is recommended that sex partners of suspected cases be included in treatment even in the absence of symptoms.

"It's on our radar screen and our first step is to say, 'Be on the lookout for this and know the symptoms for this,'" said Bob Woods, director of the state's HIV/STD and viral hepatitis program. Maine officials have also met with STD prevention educators from the state's three publicly funded clinics in Portland, Auburn and Bangor.

At the University of Southern Maine's student health center in Portland, nurse practitioner Ann Conley said clinicians have been on the lookout for LGV since last year.

Back to other news for May 6, 2005