LA County Health: Five Porn Syphilis Cases Under Investigation

LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Times reported late yesterday that “a possible cluster of syphilis cases among adult film industry performers” is under investigation by the Los Angeles County Public Health Department. “The department has received reports of at least five possible cases in the last week, said Peter Kerndt, director of the county’s Sexually Transmitted Disease programs,” the Times reported. “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.” According to the article, Kerndt said it was "not a surprise that from time to time this would occur" in the industry, and added that there was an increase in syphilis cases throughout L.A. County 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.”