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Persing said: "One of the reasons for the rising epidemic of STIs over the past year is that we have many asymptomatic people in incubation."
"We think that it will be entirely possible to test and treat the same day," said Persing. "So, you really have a dramatic effect on the transmission."
A potential vaccine
Even though the fight against gonorrhea seems to be running out of steam and that a lot of warnings could ensue after the introduction of PrEP, which has reduced the risk of gonorrhea. HIV infection and pushed some homosexuals to abandon the condom, there is reason to hope that the disease can be controlled.
Helen Petoussis-Harris, a vaccinologist at the University of Auckland, investigated an unexpected side effect of Bexsero, a meningococcal type B serogroup vaccine. This form of meningitis is caused by a bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, in connection with neisseria gonorrhea bacteria.
From 1991 to 2007, New Zealand conducted a mass vaccination campaign due to an epidemic of meningitis. Petoussis-Harris has studied its impact on gonorrhea rates.
His findings, published in 2017 in the Lancet, were striking.
"Exhibition at [the vaccine] has been associated with a reduction in the diagnosis rate of gonorrhea, the first time that a vaccine offers protection against gonorrhea. These results provide a proof of principle that can inform the development of potential vaccines not only for gonorrhea, but also for meningococcal vaccines. "
His study was the first to show that a vaccine can have a protective effect against gonorrhea. Petoussis-Harris said he believed that the gonorrhea vaccine had considerable potential, and that pharmaceutical companies, such as Bexsero's manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, took note of it.
"This is a good vaccine for meningococcal meningitis, especially Group B, and there is a reasonable chance that there will be cross-protection against gonorrhea," she said.
Petoussis-Harris spoke of new research published this month on gonorrhea rates in Cuba, where officials have long vaccinated with the help of Bexsero. This country also had lower gonorrhea rates than expected.
A new antibiotic
In addition, the increasing risk of multidrug-resistant gonorrhea also appears to be diminishing with the discovery of a new antibiotic effective against the bacterium: zoliflodacin. Since 2015, the CDC has recommended testing gonorrhea with a combination of azithromycin and ceftriaxone, chosen together because of the low probability that the bacteria will resist both.
But beyond the current two-drug regimen, there are no more potent antibiotics that can kill bacteria. Zoliflodacin, if approved for the treatment of gonorrhea, will probably help control the epidemic, as did the newer antibiotics in the late 1970s.
Mr. Daskalakis said he was convinced that the world of public health was paying more attention to the spread of these curable diseases after years of focus elsewhere.
"The STI research program has been a bit anemic – while HIV is making giant strides every three to four years," he said.
The Quickie Lab of the Chelsea Express Sexual Health Clinic will have special extended hours for World Pride – Stonewall50 in New York:
- June 27th: from 8h30 to 20h
- June 28th: from 8h30 to 20h
- June 29: 9am to 8pm
- 1st of July: from 8h30 to 20h
- 2nd of July: from 8h30 to 20h
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