UHS Health Promotion Office, UHS Building, 2nd floor, 273-5775
The Monthly InSTALL
STALLment
STALL
December 2009
HPV: Human Papillomavirus
♦ HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection.
♦ There are more than 40 HPV types that can infect the
genital areas of men and women, including: the skin of
the penis, vulva (area outside the vagina), anus, vagina,
cervix, and rectum.
♦ HPV is categorized as “low risk” or “high risk” depending
on whether the type causes genital warts (low risk) or
cancer (high risk).
♦ You cannot see HPV. Most people who become infected
with HPV do not even know they have it.
How do people get HPV?
♦ HPV is passed through genital contact, most often
during vaginal and/or anal sex.
♦ A person can have HPV even if years have passed since
he or she has had sex.
♦ Most infected persons do not realize they are infected
or that they are passing the virus to a sex partner.
How would I know that I
have HPV?
♦ Although many people will not have symptoms, some
may develop genital warts or genital cancers.
♦ Genital warts may be visible and may need to be treated
by a health professional.
♦ About 10% of women with a
high risk type of HPV will
Did you
develop long lasting HPV
know?
infections that may cause
The HPV vaccine is
now available for both
cancer.
men and women!
♦ The American Cancer
Society estimates that 11,207
women were diagnosed with cervical
cancer in 2009.
♦ Although not as common as cervical cancer, other
genital cancers are caused by HPV as well and include
cancer of the penis, anus, vulva, and vagina.
HIV, AIDS
What’s the difference?
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. You cannot get
AIDS from someone infected with HIV—only HIV.
December 1st is
World AIDS Day!
World AIDS day started on December 1st, 1988. It
was a day created to increase awareness and
improve education about HIV and AIDS.
This day is also important for
reminding us that HIV has not gone
away and that there are still
individuals infected every day.
UNAIDS estimates there are now 33.2 million people
living with HIV worldwide, including 2.5 million
children. During 2007 some 2.5 million people
became newly infected with the virus. Around 1/2 of
all people who become infected with HIV do so
before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before
they are 35.
World AIDS Day
Events
on Campus
HIV Prevention: It’s Your Right.
Wed., Dec. 2 —Free HIV Testing
4:30-7:00 PM
UHS Building, Room 220
Call 585-273-5775
to schedule an appointment
Friday, Dec. 4—Panel Discussion
5:00-6:00 PM, Havens Lounge
Refreshments provided
H1N1 Influenza
During the busy holiday season, remember that the flu
doesn't take a break! Since September, at least 400 UR
students have had an influenza-like illness.
When you travel during the holidays and when you spend
time with family and friends, keep up the healthy habits
you are using this fall to prevent the spread of flu.
♦ Wash your hands frequently, especially before eating.
♦ Do the sleeve sneeze and be sure to cover your
cough.
♦ Avoid going to parties and get-togethers if you are
feeling ill or if you know some of the people planning
to attend are ill.
♦ Avoid “finger foods” and use serving utensils to dish
out your foods rather than eating out of a “community”
bowl.
♦ Try hugs rather than kisses when saying hello or
goodbye.
Have you received your
seasonal or H1N1 flu shot?
With vaccine in short supply here at the UR and
elsewhere, you might want to check with your
local health department or family physician
while home on break!
Fun snow facts!
New York State is home to the snowiest cities in the
United States...Rochester comes in 2nd only to
Syracuse with an average of 93 inches of snow per
year!
When it comes to less populated areas, Valdez,
Alaska takes the prize with 326 inches of snow per
year! That’s almost four times the amount of snow
we get here in Rochester!
HSV: Herpes Simplex Virus
Hepatitis A (HAV)
♦ Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease
caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1)
and type 2 (HSV-2). Most genital herpes infections
are caused by HSV-2.
♦ Oral herpes, most often caused by HSV-1, affects 50
to 80 percent of Americans and is commonly referred
to as cold sores or fever blisters.
HAV can enter a person’s body when he or she eats or
drinks something contaminated with the stool or blood of
someone who has the virus. Symptoms usually appear
suddenly, but are typically not chronic or long lasting.
How is HSV spread?
Herpes is most commonly spread through genital-togenital or oral-genital contact during an active outbreak
or prodrome (the few days before an outbreak).
However, herpes can be spread even if a person is
unaware of an outbreak or does not appear to have any
symptoms.
More than 50 million Americans in
the US have genital HSV and up to
1.6 million new infections occur
each year. It is estimated that
by the year 2025 up to 40% of all
men and women could be infected!
Beating the Winter Blues…
Nearly 25% of all college students across the United
States suffer from the winter blues and this percentage
increases at higher latitudes or more cloudy areas, such
as the Rochester region.
♦ Be sure to spend time with family & friends, even after
the holidays are through.
♦ Get outside and move as much as
possible. Exercise makes us feel better!
♦ Make time for a fun, wintertime
activity like bowling or skiing!
♦ Avoid unhealthy snacks that cause
momentary relief but ultimately
decrease energy!
Hepatitis B (HBV)
HBV can enter a person’s body when their mucous
membranes (eyes, nose, mouth, urethra, vagina, or
anus) come in contact with an infected person’s blood,
saliva, semen or vaginal secretions. Unlike hepatitis A,
HBV can stay in the body, sometimes lifelong, and can
cause chronic or serious liver diseases.
Hepatitis C (HCV)
HCV is spread by the blood of an infected person and is
the most common bloodborne infection in the US. HCV
can be spread via vaginal or anal sex, sharing drug
paraphernalia, or through the use of contaminated
needles used for tattoos or piercings.
Hepatitis Statistics
♦ HAV and HBV are the only vaccine preventable STIs.
♦ 1 out of every 20 people in the US will be infected
with HBV at some point in their lives.
♦ HBV is 100 times more infectious than HIV.
♦ HCV is the leading cause of liver transplants in
the US.
Online Resources::
www.rochester.edu/uhs
www.ashastd.org
www.cdc.gov
www.unaids.org
Have an idea for a future issue? Please contact:
Melissa Kelley — [email protected]