But is the worlds largest retirement community about 80 miles northeast of Tampa really a hotbed for these diseases? . My doctor inOhioeven, when he asked where we spend time in Florida, stated Oh, The Villages the highest STD rate in the country, said Jan Schweitzer in a post, obtained by the AP in August. But rumors travel fast in communities with shared values and histories. People just want to paint the picture that old people here are like young people in New Orleans. 1 city on the list was Baltimore, Maryland followed by Jackson, Mississippi and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Residents from the Florida retirement complex the Villages, which The Post reported on in 2009 as being a wild retirees getaway, have been caught on video displaying loofahs on their cars, allegedly to distinguish their swinging sexual styles. There was a heightened awareness of the possibility of promiscuity in The Villages and the story spread like wildfire. The largest gated retirement community in the United States stretches across three zip codes, 32 miles, and is home to (as of 2017) 115,000 residents, all of them ages 55 and up. The rampant STD rumor about The Villages first erupted in 2006 after a gynecologist who had moved to the area stated that shed treated more cases of herpes and human papillomavirus in The Villages than when she practiced in Miami. STDs are common and getting tested is the only way to know for sure if you have an infection. According to a 2018 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, males aged 65 and older had a 16.7 percent rise in syphilis diagnoses. Required fields are marked *. RSS feed for comments on this post. In the United States, sexually transmitted diseases carry salacious weight despite being remarkably common and highly treatable due to ongoing stigma, said Elizabeth Finley, spokesperson for the National Coalition of S.T.D. The city had 1,502 STD cases reported per 100,000. It had received more than 300 responses. But so have sexually transmitted disease rates everywhere. 850-245-4303. Florida Department of Health. SSW winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Connect With The Villages Real Estate Agents. Its safe, and everyones happy. In 2014, with the urban legend of STDs still alive and well, the Sex on the Square story broke. The CDC estimates that this accounts for only 86.5% of all people with HIV in Florida. Because theres so much shame associated with them.. It had received more than 300 responses. And if that wasnt enough, later in the year Villagers Charm Ann Gilbert and James Richard Adams were arrested and accused of having a sexual escapade on a utility box at the intersection of Morse Boulevard and El Camino Real. When barriers to health care are high, so are rates of sexually transmitted diseases, studies show. Rumors have persisted for years that prostitutes frequent Katie Belles at night to solicit retirees now calling The Villages home. #18. Data & Statistics. SeaCasa1: Oh cachu!! The Villages the highest STD rate in the country,'" wrote Jan Schweitzer on the post. Read his Letter to the Editor. By collecting data from each state, they in turn provide a dynamic picture of the nations health as a whole. Sorted by Rate from highest to lowest. Thats compared to six in 10,000 seniors statewide. The latest local, regional and national news events are presented by the Local 10 News Team along with updated sports, weather and traffic. Jean, a 63-year-old retired teacher, said that most men wanted a one-night meaningful relationship. And her friend, Louise, said most of the single men in The Villages were cheaper than heck and the women were extremely brazen.. I think theres a little bit of jealousy from the outside, said Christine Wynne, a 50-year-old resident. And the doctor was never named. In the United States, sexually transmitted diseases carry salacious weight despite being remarkably common and highly treatable due to ongoing stigma, said Elizabeth Finley, spokesperson for the National Coalition of S.T.D. In fact, looking at statistics from the Florida Department of Health, it is at the bottom for cases per 100,000 residents. Sometimes, they cited data about the states rising rates of sexually transmitted infections among seniors as proof that the same held true in The Villages. Hillsborough and Pinellas counties were listed as among 48 areas of concern nationally based on infection rates. "When people saw it as a fearful thing, because it was a life-threatening disease, they tended to be a little bit more cautious, Finkelstein said. The city had 1,502 STD cases reported per 100,000. A state Department of Health official declined to parse out the agencys data on a more granular level, such as a census-designated place like The Villages, citing privacy concerns. It had legs, said Andrew Blechman, author of Leisureville: Adventures in a World Without Children, a 2009 book on life in The Villages that is referenced in almost all coverage of this issue. 850-414-8103 Mailing Address. Without exception, every person Ive told I bought a house in The Villages has asked the same thing, Lafferty said. He became confused and expressed outrage over their decision to live in a gated community of close to 100,000 people with no children. Where did this pervasive legend start? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Here is what we found: 17 of the Top 25 cities with the highest STD rates are located in states with healthcare spending below the national average of $10,191 per capita. "My doctor in Ohio even, when he asked where we spend time in Florida, stated 'Oh, The Villages the highest STD rate in the country,'" wrote Jan Schweitzer on the post. Sexually transmitted infections are on the rise nationally in the wake of the pandemic. The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts. The No. The Villages is rocking out with their loofahs out! one commenter quipped. Blog Peopl, Infection Detected! Often, the stories seized on signs that The Villagers were engaging in casual sex or dating, wielding them as evidence of heavy transmission within the retirement community. We have 1,200 - 1,500 paid members each year . This is especially true of young people who are not using condoms. Because theres so much shame associated with them.. Highest rates. Its an easy headline. In a Letter to the Editor, a Village of Fenney resident says immediate attention is needed at Palmetto Executive Golf Course. Directors. Notoriously averse to media interviews, Morse and The Villages community relations team did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Low 63F. I feel like I have to justify to every single person I know that I didnt buy this place to chase women, said Lafferty, who is 69 and single. At the county-by-county level, The Villages similarly fared better than most. Both served jail time as a result of the escapade. . 26,316. Without exception, every person Ive told I bought a house in The Villages has asked the same thing, Lafferty said. What should I do? Answer: Symptoms of STDs vary depending on the infection. The Villages, a mammoth retirement community that was the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the nation two years ago, is no stranger to folklore. With almost 450 homes sold per month, the gated 55+ community was the fastest growing metro in the United . Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter. Many Villagers agreed, noting theyve never heard the myth from someone living in the community. The Best Walkable Places to Retire in South Carolina, Rising Popularity of ADUs a Blessing for Retirees, More Tales of Downsizing and the Household Negotiations Involved. Between 2011 and 2015, reported rates of acute hepatitis B increased by 91 percent and rates of acute hepatitis C increased by 100 . Venice, FL (34285) Today. } And the doctor was never named. Even when adjusting for population, Florida's syphilis rate is among the top 10 and is higher than the national rate. Old People. Residents of The Villages are, of course, sexually active, said Dr. Marivic Villa, an internist who runs a health clinic in the retirement community. If you are sexually active you can decrease your risk by being in a monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is STD-free using condoms consistently and correctly and getting vaccinated against HPV and hepatitis B. A Tampa Bay Times inquiry on the 38,000-member Facebook group, The Villages Word of Mouth, was revealing. It wasnt long before crews from Orlando television stations descended on the community and the story became even more legendary. It appeared over the years everywhere from the New York Post to the Daily Mail. But perhaps no myth is more ubiquitous or more enduring than the idea of rampant rates of sexually transmitted diseases. Early Retirement Can Be Hazardous to Your Health. People just want to paint the picture that old people here are like young people in New Orleans. I think that fueled some of those rumors.. } However, not everyone agrees on the meaning behind the decorative ornaments. Answer: If you think your partner has an STD its important to talk to them about it. } Thats compared to six in 10,000 seniors statewide. Often, the stories seized on signs that The Villagers were engaging in casual sex or dating, wielding them as evidence of heavy transmission within the retirement community. This video was also made o. Since the 2000s, lawmakers have reallocated money for sexual health, a move that experts often credit with contributing to a nationwide spike. Florida Department of Health in Lake County Address: 2113 West Griffin Road Leesburg, FL 34748 Number: (352) 360-6548. Why arent they opening the movie theaters? My friends who live in the community tell me this rumor is nothing more than an urban myth. That . Florida Counties by STD Rate: Total Gonorrhea, Chlamydia & Infectious Syphilis, 2015 * - Indicates the county rate is statistically significantly different from the statewide rate. That contrasts with Leon County, home to the capitol and Florida State U., where the rate is 370. THE VILLAGES, Fla. Friends up north and across Tampa Bay snickered when Brian Lafferty revealed where hed bought a new home. Directors. And the doctor was never named. @media screen and (min-width: 769px) and (max-width: 992px) { New York, and Maryland saw the highest instance of STIs among populations 55 and older with an average STI rate per 100,000 at 881.8, 236.2, and 172.7 respectively. Newsletter Archive | Although no cities in Florida made the top 10, Tallahassee came the closest at No. But its important to note that the sprawling community is in a heavy growth mode and is now home to more than 125,000 people. Another reason for the high STD rate in the villages is that there is a lot of unprotected sex taking place. Advertise | The Villages: Beer and STDs. As for the alledged STD rate, see the "Highest std rate?" section above, where the topic was rejected long ago as an urban legend. Syphilis Rates in Florida. Florida tracks sexually transmitted diseases by county of residence. Residents hear the joke all too often. In Central Florida, where The Villages and other retirement communities sprawl across several counties, reported cases of syphilis and chlamydia increased 71 percent among those 55 and older in that same period. Residents of The Villages are, of course, sexually active, said Dr. Marivic Villa, an internist who runs a health clinic in the retirement community. Covering an area larger than Manhattan, The Villages spans three Florida counties Sumter, Marion and Lake. A Tampa Bay Times inquiry on the 38,000-member Facebook group, The Villages Word of Mouth, was revealing. Covering an area larger than Manhattan, The Villages spans three Florida counties Sumter, Marion and Lake. STDs. About Us | A Tampa Bay Times inquiry on the 38,000-member Facebook group, "The Villages Word of Mouth," was revealing. Why upset that a Tesla was named in a crash report? Communities | But as it finally started to die off, the community suffered a double whammy of sorts that brought it all back to life. By using this site, you agree to the
The Villages, over the past few decades, has made a name for itself for several reasons (it's even the topic of a recent documentary, Some . Florida identified 4,584 new HIV diagnoses, according to the most recent data available from the federal agency's HIV . Williamstown , New Jersey: Guy Luongo Gaetano Luongo. Copyright 2022 by The Associated Press All rights reserved. In 2008, author Andrew D. Blechman released a book called Leisureville that told sordid tales of nightlife in The Villages. "My doctor in Ohio even, when he asked where we spend time in Florida, stated . Compared to other practitioners, I should. We are more worried about alligators than crabs here, typed Sean Donnelly. Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? Newsletter | The central Florida senior haven has fielded rumors about swingers and public sex for decades. And if you do have an STD the sooner you get treated the better. highest std rate college in virginia. Isnt that the STD capital of the United States?. And will it ever go away? And the percentage of older adults living in poverty is slightly lower than the national rate, suggesting its retirees may have better access to health care than the country as a whole. Blechmans neighbors had moved to The Villages from New England and he paid them a visit. Some people love gossip about old people and sex.. Rumors of high STD rates in the Villages persist. A Tampa Bay Times inquiry on the 38,000-member Facebook group, "The Villages Word of Mouth," was revealing. Any publicity is good publicity.. All Rights Reserved. 1 city on the list was Baltimore, Maryland followed by Jackson, Mississippi and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Requested URL: www.55places.com/blog/10-major-myths-rumors-about-the-villages, User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 15_5 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) CriOS/103.0.5060.63 Mobile/15E148 Safari/604.1. They know how to have fun and we all died, one scared grandchild wrote. Marion and Lake bore similar trends. I think theres a little bit of jealousy from the outside, said Christine Wynne, a 50-year-old resident. The central Florida senior haven has fielded rumors about swingers and public sex for decades. The same patterns emerged for diagnoses of human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HIV, among Floridas older adults. In December 2017 with the STD rumor amazingly still circulating across the community an article published in Seniors Health took on the controversy. Find out where the highest rates of gonorrhea and chlamydia are in each state. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Villages Florida Does the Villages in Florida have the highest STD rate?-----Our mission is informing people correctly. But rumors travel fast in communities with shared values and histories. Trust me, all the people I have met are definitely not swingers as most can barely stand without assistance.. Isnt that the STD capital of the United States?. Its irresistible no one wants to think about their parents having sex, but they love news articles about old people having sex. display: block; While statistics arent yet reflecting the trend, one physician at the Womens Center of The Villages said, even in her years working in Miami, she has never seen so many cases, the since-removed WFTV article reported. 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