Sexually transmitted diseases proliferate among men and women who have multiple sexual partners. If the recent measure of HIV infection among Baltimore's gay men was restricted to those who frequent "gay" bars and clubs, then it will overestimate the prevalence of HIV in Baltimore because it will not include those gay men who are not seeking extra partners ("Baltimore leads in HIV infection in gay men," Oct. 2). The prime public health message to the people in any community seeking to reduce STDs, including HIV, is and has ever been, "If you are sexually active, have few and preferably only one sexual partner."
Dr. Paul McHugh