CHICAGO - Nearly 25 years after Time magazine declared that an epidemic of genital herpes threatened to undo the sexual revolution, a new study finds an encouraging decline in the percentage of people infected with the herpes virus.
The study shows a 19 percent drop since 1994 in the percentage of Americans ages 14 to 49 testing positive for herpes type 2, the most common cause of the recurring painful sores of genital herpes.
The findings, appearing in today's Journal of the American Medical Association, represent biological evidence of a decrease in risky sexual behavior among adolescents, said Dr. Fujie Xu of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lead author of the report. "Overall, this is good news. There is a decrease occurring among all youth, males and females, and in all racial groups," Xu said.
But herpes is still uncomfortably common. Despite the decline, blood tests of more than 11,000 people found 11 percent of men and 23 percent of women carry the genital herpes, or type 2, virus.
Florida leads nation's rise in traffic deaths
WASHINGTON - Florida had the biggest overall increase as traffic deaths nationwide last year reached the highest level since 1990, propelled by an increase in motorcycle and pedestrian fatalities.
The overall fatality rate was up for the first time in 20 years.
Motorcyclists' deaths rose for an eighth straight year, the government said. Nearly half did not wear helmets.
Some 43,443 people were killed on the highways last year, up 1.4 percent from 42,836 in 2004, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tuesday.
Traffic-related deaths increased in 26 states and the District of Columbia. Florida had the biggest overall increase - 299 deaths, to a total of 3,543 - a 9.2 percent rise. Motorcycle fatalities rose 13 percent - to 4,553 in 2005.
Two killed during ride to help police families
COVINGTON, Ind. - A van struck bicyclists riding to raise money for families of officers who died while on duty, killing a state trooper and a sheriff's deputy, police said.
The van, which was providing support to the bicyclists and was marked with a large banner "Caution Cyclists Ahead" spun into the group after being hit by a box truck, police said.
Killed were state police Lt. Gary Dudley and Gary Martin, who had retired in April as chief of the Lake County Sheriff's Department. An injured cyclist, retired Indianapolis police Officer Spencer Moore, was hospitalized and listed in fair condition.
The two drivers were treated and released. It's not clear if charges will be filed.
Medicare mistake may cause confusion
WASHINGTON - About 230,000 Medicare recipients are getting checks that erroneously reimburse them for monthly premiums they have paid for prescription drug coverage this year.
The checks, which might leave many beneficiaries confused, average about $215. They are accompanied by a letter that mistakenly says the Social Security Administration will no longer deduct monthly premiums for drug coverage from their Social Security check.
Medicare officials began sending a second letter instructing the elderly and disabled not to cash the checks and assuring them that their prescription drug coverage will continue.
Marines to call up thousands of reservists
WASHINGTON - The Marine Corps is planning to call up as many as 2,500 Marine reservists for combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, officials said Tuesday.
The Marines would come from a pool of about 59,000 who left active duty but are obligated to serve if called.
