DIGITAL LIFE

WHO warns of STD epidemic in the era of dating applications

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an alert Thursday for the lack of progress in reducing the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and recommended the use of condoms to prevent such spread.
A WHO report revealed that more than 1 million cases of sexually transmitted diseases are being reported every day. According to more recent data, in 2016, there were more than 376 million new infections of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis. This number is practically the same as in the report in 2012, which shows a stagnation in the reduction of transmission of STIs.
"We are seeing a worrying lack of progress in the fight to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections worldwide," said WHO Director-General for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Peter Salama, and urged authorities to ensure that everyone has access necessary to prevent and treat these diseases.
According to WHO, in 2016, 127 million new cases of chlamydia, 87 million gonorrhea, 6.3 million syphilis and 156 million trichomoniasis were registered. These infections are most prevalent among people aged 15-49. "On average, one in 25 people in the world has at least one of these four STDs," the organization said.
According to WHO specialist on sexually transmitted infections, Teodora Wi, there is concern that condom use may be declining as people have lost their fear of contracting HIV with the emergence of more effective antiviral treatments.
Wi said people are more complacent about protection and stressed that this is extremely dangerous at a time when sex has become more accessible with dating applications.
Rarely do these diseases have symptoms at the outset, and so many patients do not know they are infected and need treatment, thus allowing these STDs to continue to spread. "We consider a hidden epidemic, a silent and dangerous epidemic," said Melanie Taylor, one of the authors of the WHO report.
If not treated properly, STDs can cause serious damage, including heart and neurological diseases, infertility, miscarriages, and increase the risk of contracting HIV. They are transmitted primarily through unprotected sexual contact, but can also be passed from the mother to the baby during pregnancy or childbirth.
The use of condoms is the most effective method for protection against transmission of STIs. WHO also emphasized the importance of sex education for prevention.

Source: dw.com via CN/afp/lusa/efe