CHATSWORTH, Calif.—A call has been issued for all adult production across Europe to be temporarily halted after a male performer recently contracted syphilis in Spain.
Immoral Productions CEO "Porno" Dan Leal, who is based in Budapest, Hungary, provided the following statement regarding the situation:
A clinic in Spain has confirmed that a male performer tested positive for syphilis on July 14.
Preliminary information indicates that this individual worked with numerous performers during a potential exposure period, and many of them were unaware of his positive test results until yesterday.
In the interest of health and safety, it is advised that all industry productions and collaborations be temporarily paused while appropriate measures are taken.
The major agencies in Europe support this decision.
Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
UPDATE (9:10 p.m. PT): U.S.-based talent health oversight organization Performer Availability Screening Service (PASS) gave AVN the following statement Friday night regarding the situation in Europe:
"PASS is aware of reports of a production hold in Europe associated with a possible syphilis exposure in Spain. We do not have independent information about that situation.
"While PASS consults globally, we do not operate outside the U.S. and Canada, we are not affiliated with the organization that issued the reported hold, and we do not have access to the labs, clinics or case information involved. For that reason, we are not in a position to confirm the details, scope or status of the reported outbreak.
"We are monitoring available information and will communicate directly with performers and studios if anything emerges that affects the domestic performer pool."
"While PASS consults globally, we do not operate outside the U.S. and Canada, we are not affiliated with the organization that issued the reported hold, and we do not have access to the labs, clinics or case information involved. For that reason, we are not in a position to confirm the details, scope or status of the reported outbreak.
"We are monitoring available information and will communicate directly with performers and studios if anything emerges that affects the domestic performer pool."
