Free chlamydia test at Glastonbury
Updated on 16 June 2009
Revellers at this summer's biggest music festival are being offered free tests for the pervasive sexually transmitted disease chlamydia, the NHS has said.
Music lovers aged between 15 and 24 are asked to visit a screening centre set up at the Glastonbury Festival to curb the spread.
In between watching acts such as Lady Gaga and a reformed Blur, NHS Somerset hopes visitors pick up and return a simple test kit.
STD experts are setting up camp at the famous festival because chlamydia is the UK's fastest spreading sexual infection.
Event organiser Michael Eavis supports the Somerset chlamydia screening programme and wants punters to be tested on site.
DIY urine sample kits will be available at the six "information points" dotted around.
Anyone returning their test kit receives a free glow-in-the-dark sperm key ring or glow-in-the-dark condom.
Sara Dove, NHS chlamydia screening service manager, said: "The chlamydia screening service wants to reach as many young people from Somerset as possible to inform them of the risks to health from chlamydia and offer a DIY test results to those who may have exposed themselves to the risk of infection.
"The service is completely free, confidential and easy and so are the test results. Young people can choose how to receive their result (a discreet message by text or email, a letter or by phone). For those testing positive the treatment is simple and painless - just four antibiotic tablets taken at once."
Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world. One in 12 sexually active people between 15 and 24 in the UK test positive. The disease has no symptoms in 70% of women and 50% of men. If left untreated chlamydia can cause major infertility problems for women and men.
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