Letters

Comments (0) Tuesday, Nov 16 1999

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What the article lacked, besides the facts about HPV, is ACOG and Planned Parenthood's plan to prevent the spread of HPV. But that isn't the author's fault. As far as we know, ACOG and Planned Parenthood don't have any plans to prevent HPV transmission. Let's think again about who is "anti-woman."

Yvette Cantu
Policy Analyst, Family Research Council
Washington, D.C.

Sharon Lerner replies: It is not true that virtually all cervical cancer is caused by HPV. According to the Centers for Disease Control's Helene Gayle, roughly 70 percent of cervical cancer can be linked to HPV. More important, it is cervical cancer-and not HPV-that directly threatens women's health. I never said that cervical cancer is an inconsequential disease. It is not. Nor is HPV inconsequential. As I state in the article, the virus is not harmless. It is, however, relatively less harmful than other STDs that condoms can protect against, such as AIDS.

Announcement

Writers for Mumia will hold a symposium in defense of Mumia Abu Jamal on November 20. The event will be at Columbia University's Law School auditorium at 116th and Amsterdam. For information call 633-6646.

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