HPV In Men's Fingernails, Could Factor In Vaccine Distribution Debate

HPV In Men's Fingernails

Laura Koutsky, a University of Washingtonepidemiologist, and colleagues have identified traces of the humanpapillomavirus under the fingernails of young men, a finding that could"throw a monkey wrench" in the debate over a distribution of HPV vaccines, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. According to the Post-Intelligencer,HPV is primarily a sexually transmitted infection, and some opponentsof mandating HPV vaccines for girls have said such regulations couldsend a message that "sex at a young age is acceptable behavior"(Paulson, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 7/31).

Earlierthis year, 24 states and Washington, D.C., considered proposals tomandate HPV vaccination for middle-school age girls, but Virginiais the only state to have passed such a measure. Debate over themeasures involved issues including teenage sex, parental control andstate mandates, as well as concerns about long-term health effects ofthe vaccine and pharmaceutical company lobbying (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 5/21). According to Lauri Markowitz, a CDC expert on HPV, more than 40 states have enacted legislation encouraging wider use of HPV vaccines.

Koutsky, who led some clinical trials and research that led to the development of Merck'sHPV vaccine Gardasil, said the presence of HPV in fingernails suggeststhat the virus might have another transmission route. She added theresults could help explain why HPV infection has been found in infantsand young girls who had not become sexually active. However, Koutskysaid there is no evidence that HPV can be contracted through contactsuch as a handshake.

According to the Post-Intelligencer,Koutsky's findings could "give pause to those arguing" against an HPVvaccine from a "moral" perspective. "Basically, it's not just aboutsex," Koutsky said, adding, "You have to know how people [contract HPV]in order to prevent it." She also said that at some point it willbecome evident that boys and young men also should be vaccinatedagainst the virus (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 7/31).
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