Infected and untreated, prostitutes behind Knox County syphilis outbreak » Knoxville News Sentinel

"Dozens of Knoxville’s street-level prostitutes are infected with syphilis or HIV and many of them don’t even know it, according to the Knox County Health Department.

Even when prostitutes do know that they’re potentially spreading a lethal disease and might face a stiff prison term for it, many continue plying their trade from the sidewalks of North and East Knoxville with little concern for themselves, their customers or the innocent who might end up infected, said Gary Messer, who does public outreach for the Health Department."