V.D. Incidence In American Servicemen ‘Low’

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30390, 14 March 1964, Page 12

V.D. Incidence In American Servicemen ‘Low’

The incidence of venereal disease amongst servicemen in the United States Navy Antarctic Support Force visiting and stationed in Christchurch was very low, an officer of the force said in Christchurch yesterday.

The V.D. rate had declined sharply, and was much lower than in many countries which the United States Navy visited, or was stationed in, said the public information officer of the United States Navy to Christchurch (LieutenantCommander D. W. Madison). He had been asked to comment on the report, published yesterday, by the venereologist to the North Canterbury Hospital Board, Dr. W- M. Platte. Dr. Platte said that Christchurch probably had a world record of its female sufferers from venereal disease. He said that a factor swelling Christchurch V.D. disease figures had been, and still was, an influx of girls mainly of the promiscuous type of both (European and Maori) races, attracted by the presence of foreign servicemen in the city. Commander Madison said that, not only because of newspaper reports concerning the incidence and causes of venereal diseases in Christchurch, officials of the United States Navy Antarctic Task Force had undertaken a study of the medical records of members of the force since it was formed about seven years ago.

"This study has revealed that the incidence of V.D. to members of the task force has steadily declined since the operation began. “The rate of V.D. in United States Navy servicemen to New Zealand is generally less than the rate to many other countries to the world which United States Navy personnel visit or are stationed in. “I think that this decline to the rate of V.D. here has continued partly because the men have been, and are being, briefed on the subject and, frankly, being made aware through articles to the newspapers of the numbers of possibly more questionable girls coming into the town. “The decline is at a rate Which indicates that the men are aware of the evils of these particular prostitutes and are standing clear.” Commander Madison said that the medical men of the United States Navy task force stationed to Christchurch were pleased with the excellent co - operation

received from the local health authorities. Questioned further, he said that he took this to mean that the United States Navy medical men and the local health authorities worked together to trace the carriers of venereal diseases in Christchurch. The United States Navy medical men notified the local authorities of cases of V.D. in servicemen, and the local authorities notified cases in girls. He thought it most unlikely that a U.S.N. serviceman would have a venereal disease for any length of time without this becoming known. The men were warned of the dangers, knew that condoms and prophylactic treatment were common-sense precautions, and that early treatment if they had a disease was essential to themselves as well as others. Commander Madison said that any large number of servicemen, of any nation in any country, attracted camp followers. Members of the U.S.N. task force In Christchurch were being made well aware of the position to lessen the danger of disease to themselves and danger of spreading it. He estimated that the average number of U.S.N. servicemen in Christchurch to any one summer, taking into account visiting U.S.N. ships, would be about 600 to 700.