LA County Health Officials Asked To Investigate Alleged Porn Industry Syphilis Case

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles County health officials have been asked to investigate a report by an adult film industry blogger that a "male porn performer" tested positive for syphilis and about 15 others may have also been exposed.

"We are calling on county health officials to investigate this latest syphilis case and possible outbreak in the adult film industry, a situation we believe could have been prevented if county officials had even bothered to enforce Measure B after it was passed by a clear majority of county voters last fall," said AIDS Healthcare Foundation President Michael Weinstein. He was referring to the measure that requires porn actors to wear condoms.

"Information about this current case comes from an extremely reliable industry source," Weinstein added. "And while we hope this is a limited situation that results in no additional infections, we are also calling on the county to immediately step up and enforce the provisions and requirements of Measure B."

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a statement that the agency and its Division of HIV and STD Programs "continue to track and respond to reported cases of syphilis as part of their public health mission."

"While DPH is aware of media reports about a possible case of syphilis that may be connected with the adult film industry, a confirmatory case report has not been received by DHSP. If this case were to be confirmed, DHSP will investigate it according to routine protocol, which includes interviews with sexual partners of individuals who are infected," the statement said.

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