Social networking sites have been getting a lot of attention recently and mostly for all the right reasons too, they’re pretty cool.
However, British health authorities have identified a link between use of Facebook and a rise in cases of the sexually transmitted disease Syphilis according to the daily Telegraph.
Apparently the STI has increased fourfold in parts of northern England where Facebook is extremely popular and all because it has allowed people to meet each other and obviously have sex, who might never have met and done so without the social networking site.
I find that a bit hard to believe in some ways, I really don’t think Facebook is the culprit, that’s quite ridiculous, it’s the people themselves who have to take responsibility for their own health.
If they are going to indulge in unprotected casual sex they would do this anyway, whether they met in the local pub, nightclub or Facebook or any other online site. It’s just that Facebook use is such a common way of communicating today.
Apparently research has revealed that in places such as Teesside, Sunderland, and Durham, social networking sites such as Facebook are 25 percent more popular than they are in other parts of the country.
Professor Peter Kelly, director of public health in Teesside, told the Daily Telegraph “There has been a fourfold increase in the number of syphilis cases detected with more young women being affected.
“I don’t get the names of people affected, just figures, and I saw that several of the people had met sexual partners through these sites.
“Social networking sites are making it easier for people to meet up for casual sex.”
Of course the advice is to take precautions when indulging in sex, casual or otherwise, no matter where you live, Syphilis is not fun.
If you suspect you could have contracted Syphilis or indeed any other STI, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible. If Syphilis is detected early, then the cure is simple, just one single dose of penicillin or other antibiotics will sort it out. However, if you don’t get treated, the consequences are pretty dire.
An interesting fact about Syphilis is how a few centuries ago everyone tried to blame someone else.
People in Tahiti called it the British disease. The Italians called it the French disease and the French returned the favour and named it the Italian disease. The Dutch said it was the Spanish disease and the Russians said it was the Polish disease.
Now it’s at risk of being dubbed the Facebook disease. The fact is it’s a global disease where no one is immune. Be aware!
