Bug breakfast in the bulletin: sexually transmissible infections and bloodborne viruses in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.

Nationally there are higher rates of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and bloodborne viruses diagnosed in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than in other Australians. These infections are a major source of morbidity: untreated chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis can cause infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, premature delivery and neonatal and post-partum infections, while hepatitis B and C can lead to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Untreated STIs can facilitate the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a lifelong infection with numerous health consequences. These infections are largely preventable andeasilydiagnosed;manySTIs are easily cured.