Extremely Rare STI Diagnosed Locally

Posted on: Tuesday, 22 July 2008, 15:00 CDT Palmerston North was one of the first regions a patient was diagnosed with an extremely rare sexually transmitted disease. There have been two cases of Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) - a disease spreading among gay and bisexual men in Europe and the United States - recorded in New Zealand. Health officials believe the cases in Palmerston North and Auckland were connected, it was reported. "These cases were only noticed because the clinicians involved were alert to the possibility and decided to investigate further," said Auckland Sexual Health lead clinician Dr Nikki Perkins. The disease is caused by specific strains of chlamydia and is often marked with painful, bloody rectal infection and genital ulcers, and can lead to long-term complications and enhance the transmission of HIV.... [read full story]