Alarm over HPV infection rates
As many as one in four women in the US aged 14 to 59 may have the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV), which is linked to cervical cancer, according to a study of more than 2,000 women - higher than expected. HPV is one of the most commonly sexually transmitted infections, and can cause cervical, anal and other genital cancers, AFP and AP report. Low-risk forms can cause genital warts and often clear without treatment. 'Our data indicate that ... HPV infection among women [particularly among those aged 14 to 24] was higher than previous estimates,' say the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention researchers.