Replacing them with a new person who has not worked with the unit also hinders readiness. But HIV isn't the only STD with long-term health consequences or impact on readiness. Human papilloma virus has been associated with cervical cancer and other cancers. Other STDs certainly have emotional and economic consequences. The emotional consequences of somebody contracting an STD could impair their ability to do their job to the fullest.
Experts agree the best way to treat disease is to prevent it, and STDs are no different.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta has said prevention is the most important strategy for controlling the spread of infectious disease, Calvert said. To that end, he continued, the committee is working with the services to increase availability of male and female condoms, products that have been proven to protect against STDs. The committee also is working with the service exchange systems to encourage people to purchase disease-prevention products by keeping prices as low as possible. That program, he said, includes education, and information on abstinence, monogamous relationships and reducing the number of sexual partners. While abstinence or sex with a mutually monogamous, uninfected partner are the surest ways to cut one's risk of STD infection, Calvert acknowledged that encouraging these practices won't eliminate STDs.