header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
June 23
1946, 11:20pm: William S. Hart, 81, dies at L.A.'s California Lutheran Hospital, leaving his Newhall estate and his (now West) Hollywood home to the public [story]
Hart dies


hhs_nih_logoResearchers funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, have uncovered when HIV entered the United States and the virus’s earliest movements in this country.

Using new molecular techniques that they developed, the scientists estimate that HIV jumped to the U.S. from Haiti in 1971, arriving in New York City and spreading from there to San Francisco and other locales.

The scientists also discovered through historic and genetic research that a French-Canadian gay flight attendant posthumously blamed for spreading HIV across North America was not the epidemic’s “Patient Zero.”

The findings were published in the advance online edition of Nature on Oct. 26. [Read it here]

 


 

Public Health Urges Clinical Screening and the Use of Condoms to Protect Individuals against the Harms of Sexually Transmitted Diseases

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 28 – In response to a report recently released by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) reminds the public about the importance of clinical screening and the use of condoms to protect individuals against the harms of sexually transmitted diseases, especially for those who have multiple sex partners.

In Los Angeles County, nearly 75,000 cases of STDs were reported in 2015.  The reported cases included 53,069 cases of chlamydia, 16,469 cases of gonorrhea, and 4,630 cases of syphilis, including 21 cases of congenital syphilis. In Los Angeles County, the percent increase of reportable STDs in 2015 (5.1% more cases than in 2014) was not as high as California (11.6%), but the rate of disease (cases per 100,000) is higher.  Given this disease burden, local efforts to prevent and treat disease remain critical.

“The large proportion of cases of sexually transmitted disease occur among individuals who are between the ages of 15 and 24,” said Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, MD, MPH, Interim Health Officer for Los Angeles County. “Also, men who have sex with men (MSMs) and young women of color are two distinct populations that bear the disproportionate burden of the current rise in STDs. Because these diseases can have serious consequences and are often missed in routine exams, it is very important for individuals who are at risk to be screened by their health care provider.” In Los Angeles County, all gay and bisexual men who are sexually active should undergo screening at least twice per year and all pregnant women should be screened early during their pregnancy. Treatment with antibiotics can be effective in preventing chronic pain, infertility, and other serious conditions later in life.

In response to the recent increases in STD rates in LA County, Public Health has increased its efforts to ensure that STD cases are quickly identified, assessed and treated, including by partnering with a diverse group of community-based organizations throughout Los Angeles County to enhance STD control efforts. STD services are widely available to the public at these clinics.

Public Health continues to support robust HIV and STD marketing efforts and condom distribution activities. Over the past 5 years, Public Health has supported a large-scale condom awareness and distribution initiative, called LA Condom (www.lacondom.com), which distributes more than 2 million free condoms annually through a network of 500 distribution sites.

Earlier this year, Public Health began a prominently featured pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) education and awareness campaign called “The Protectors” as part of its HIV prevention efforts. The campaign is complemented by a website (www.getprepla.com) containing information about PrEP and providers that offer the service.

As part of its heightened focus on STD-related disparities among persons of color in South Los Angeles, Public Health continues to support the Second Supervisorial District STD Community Advisory Coalition (CAC), a group made up of community-based service providers, school- and faith-based leaders, community advocates, and residents of South LA. Since 2014, the CAC has engaged more than 4 dozen public and community agencies and more than 100 faith-based organizations to join in the efforts to prevent STDs. Through this work, Public Health and its partners are raising awareness of STDs and improving STD control efforts in one of the most impacted areas of the County.

About Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Public Health comprises nearly 4,000 employees and has an annual budget exceeding $900 million. To learn more about the Department of Public Health and the work we do, please visit PublicHealth.LACounty.gov.

 

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Friday, Jun 20, 2025
June 28: Amateur Ham Radio National Field Day at Acton Park
Amateur Ham Radio National Field Day will be held Saturday, June 28, at Acton Park, noon to 9 p.m.
Thursday, Jun 19, 2025
Pioneer Oil Refinery Park Opens to the Public in Newhall
The Pioneer Oil Refinery off of Pine Street in Newhall was built in 1877 by California Star Oil works, forming the foundation for the West Coast oil industry. Benzene and kerosene were the main products made in the refinery and were later sold locally in Ventura and Santa Barbara.
Thursday, Jun 19, 2025
Santa Clarita Hiring for Positions at Hart Park
Love the outdoors? Passionate about community programs? The city of Santa Clarita is hiring part-time Recreation Leaders to help bring events, camps and nature programs to life at William S. Hart Park.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1946, 11:20pm: William S. Hart, 81, dies at L.A.'s California Lutheran Hospital, leaving his Newhall estate and his (now West) Hollywood home to the public [story]
Hart dies
1972 - Vasquez Rocks added to National Register of Historic Places [list]
Vasquez Rocks
The Agua Dulce Women's Club Community Blood Drive will be held Wednesday, June 25, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. at 33201 Agua Dulce Canyon Road, Agua Dulce, CA 91390.
June 25: Agua Dulce Women’s Club Community Blood Drive
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board of Trustees will be held Tuesday, June 24 beginning at 6:40 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 5:30 p.m.
June 24: Saugus Union School District Board Regular Meeting
1941 - Ernie Hickson buys out Trem Carr's interest in their Monogram movie ranch, renames it "Placeritos" (later called Melody) [story]
Ernie Hickson
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a meeting Wednesday, June 25, beginning with a closed session at 2:30 p.m. The open session begins at 5 p.m.
June 25: COC Board to Conduct Self-Evaluation Retreat
The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, the longest-running and largest food assistance organization in the SCV, has been selected by Albertsons Companies to receive a $30,000 makeover grant.
SCV Food Pantry to Receive $30K ‘Makeover’ from Albertsons
The Samuel Dixon Family Health Center invites the community to the Third Annual Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, June 21 at 11 a.m. at Lucky Luke Brewing Company.
June 21: Sam Dixon Cornhole Tournament at Lucky Luke Brewing
Calling all Los Angeles County artists and performers. If you're part of a dance, music, vocal, musical theater or circus group, you are encouraged to apply to be part of the 66th Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration.
Performers Sought for Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration
The Castaic Union School District Governing Board will hold its regular meeting Thursday, June 26 at 6 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 5 p.m.
June 26: CUSD Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
Amateur Ham Radio National Field Day will be held Saturday, June 28, at Acton Park, noon to 9 p.m.
June 28: Amateur Ham Radio National Field Day at Acton Park
For one weekend only, Matchbox Theatre Co. is bringing its inaugural production of Johnna Adams’ "World Builders" to The MAIN.
June 27-29: Matchbox Theatre to Present ‘World Builders’ at The MAIN
Vasquez Rocks Natural Area will host its "Pride Outside," event 4-7 p.m. Sunday, June 29.
June 29: Pride Outside at Vasquez Rocks
Caltrans has announced overnight lane reductions are scheduled on northbound and southbound Interstate 5 (I-5) south of Templin Highway starting Monday, June 23 for pavement rehabilitation.
June 23-27: Castaic Area I-5 Lane Closures
2002 - "Legacy: Santa Clarita's Living History" series debuts on SCVTV with "Placerita Gold" episode [watch]
Legacy
The Pioneer Oil Refinery off of Pine Street in Newhall was built in 1877 by California Star Oil works, forming the foundation for the West Coast oil industry. Benzene and kerosene were the main products made in the refinery and were later sold locally in Ventura and Santa Barbara.
Pioneer Oil Refinery Park Opens to the Public in Newhall
Old Town Newhall will host a "Sip into Summer" Bar Crawl, 8 p.m. Saturday, June 21 on Main Street.
June 21: Sip into Summer Bar Crawl On Main Street
I wanted to share a quick legislative update from Sacramento. We recently reached the deadline to send bills from the Senate to the Assembly in order to continue moving them through the legislative process this session.
Suzette Martinez Valladares | Report from the State Senate
The city of Santa Clarita is seeking Youth Basketball Coaches for the 2025 summer season.
Santa Clarita Volunteer Youth Basketball Coaches Needed
Love the outdoors? Passionate about community programs? The city of Santa Clarita is hiring part-time Recreation Leaders to help bring events, camps and nature programs to life at William S. Hart Park.
Santa Clarita Hiring for Positions at Hart Park
Harley-Davidson Santa Clarita will host a performance suspension workshop, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, June 28 with a Q and A with experts from OHLINS Factory.
June 28: Harley-Davidson Santa Clarita Suspension Workshop
California Institute of the Arts was recently named in The Hollywood Reporter’s inaugural Top Animation Schools list for 2025.
CalArts Named One of ‘The Hollywood Reporter’s’ Top Animation Schools for 2025
ARTree Community Arts Center in collaboration with Santa Clarita Public Library are seeking teen volunteers to help create a bottle cap mural.
ARTree, Santa Clarita Library Seeks Volunteers for Bottle Cap Mural
SCVNews.com