Porn Shutdown Ewwww...Over Syphilis Outbreak In Adult Industry Confirmed

Because of the rumors, APHSS opened up their semi-annual syphilis testing immediately instead holding off until the original September date.

The Los Angeles County Public Health Department confirmed the small cluster of positive syphilis tests to the Los Angeles Times the next day. Peter Kerndt, director of the county’s Sexually Transmitted Disease programs, told the Times that the department had received at least five cases in the last week, and are working to pinpoint the original source.

“Whenever there is a cluster like that it may be the tip of the iceberg,” Kerndt said to the Times. “It is a concern. It is a serious health risk to workers in this industry.”

APHSS has since called for a temporary moratorium on adult film production until all performers get tested for syphilis, and the non-profit AIDS Healthcare Foundation is also expected to hold a news conference Monday morning in response to the possible outbreak. The organization is expected to say that the current system of frequent testing and self-policing doesn’t do enough to prevent STD outbreaks, reports ABC-7.