LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday that “a possible cluster of syphilis cases among adult film industry performers” is under investigation by the Los Angeles County Public Health Department.
Dr. Peter Kerndt, director of the county’s Sexually Transmitted Disease programs, is quoted as saying, “The department has received reports of at least five possible cases in the last week. The county plans to follow up with the affected individuals to ensure that they have been properly treated and to determine who else may have been infected. Public health workers are also attempting to find out the original source of the recent cluster.”
Kerndt said it was "not a surprise that from time to time this would occur" in the industry, and noted that syphilis cases throughout L.A. County had increased between 2010 and 2011.
“Whenever there is a cluster like that it may be the tip of the iceberg," he cautioned. "It is a concern. It is a serious health risk to workers in this industry.”
