Preventing Human Papillomavirus Cuts Cancer Risk – MM1704
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is an important preventable cause of sexually-transmitted disease and squamous cell carcinomas. HPV is a very
common virus, with eight out of 10 adults coming into contact with HPV and 4 248 women between the ages of 15 and 44 dying from HPV related cervical
cancer each year in South Africa. In clinical trials, the quadrivalent HPV vaccine has been found to be safe
and efficacious. The effects of HPV vaccination programmes on population health have already been observed in the form of reduced incidences of HPV
infections, genital warts, and HPV-attributed precancerous lesions.
Modern Medicine – April 2017
