6,000 Irianese suffer from syphilis

6,000 Irianese suffer from syphilis

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: About 6,000 people in Timika are
reportedly suffering from syphilis while four others recently
tested positive for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), Antara
said.

Steve Wiegnall, head of the public health center of the mining
company PT Freeport in Timika, said on Friday that 95 percent of
those affected were women. They were undergoing intensive
treatment at the company's clinic.

Wiegnall said many women in Mimika regency had been found in
the past several years to suffer from various diseases such as
gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and candidiasis which it is
thought they contracted through sexual contacts.

It has been reported that sexual diseases have been spreading
through contacts with foreign fishermen operating in Irianese
waters. (rms)