CHATSWORTH, Calif. - Sharon Mitchell of AIM Healthcare is concerned that an outbreak of syphilis in Europe could spread to Porn Valley if American agencies and performers are not careful about overseas shoots.
"I just want to make sure that everyone realizes that there is a huge outbreak of syphilis in Europe," Mitchell said. "Right now, the Czech Republic and Hungary are shut down in quarantine until the end of November. If anyone comes up positive, they will extend it until January of next year.
"I am telling you right now that if you are going back and forth to the UK or Europe, you are not safe from this syphilis outbreak."
Mitchell explained that UK producers are using talent from all over Europe, including the Czech Republic, France, Spain and Italy.
"I am aware that several [U.S.] agencies regularly send talent over to UK consistently," she said. "We may not know up to 8 weeks after they have returned if they have syphilis, or have infected other talent members.
"As the Executive Director of AIM Healthcare Foundation, I have asked the County Health Department who provides our free Syphilis testing program to extend this arrangement for every month of the year, as opposed to twice each year," Mitchell said.
For more information, go to aim-med.org.
