Report: One Performer in Budapest Tests Positive for Syphilis

LOS ANGELES—Veteran producer Porno Dan Leal, who is now based in Budapest, confirmed Friday that one performer in the local porn community has tested positive for syphilis.

“As of now there is one confirmed positive performer and over a dozen first-generation exposures,” Leal said. “The models who are on the list are being contacted, however it is the weekend and the laboratory is closed until Monday. I am personally halting production until further notification.” 

Leal added, “As can be expected there are a lot of rumors, speculations, and fear amongst those in the adult industry in Budapest. I was one of the first people notified about this situation, and hence the one of the first to make the decision to cancel my productions.”

Industry attorney Michael Fattorosi said in a tweet that the performer who tested positive was a male.

The Free Speech Coalition, which administers the Performer Availability Screening Services system in America (PASS), issued this statement about the situation:

"We have received a report that a male performer in Budapest has tested positive for syphilis, and that other performers working with him in Budapest may have been exposed. Syphilis is easily curable, but can be transmitted by both fluid exchange or skin-to-skin contact, including oral sex, or in the presence of a condom. The report has not yet been substantiated, and we will let you know as more information becomes available. In the meantime, out of an abundance of caution, we encourage any performers who have recently worked in Europe to get tested for syphilis, regardless of when your next fourteen-day PASS test is scheduled."

Representatives from the LA-based Adult Performer Advocacy Committee (APAC) were not available for comment at press time.

AVN will update this story as more information becomes available.