South Africa is recalling 1.35 million condoms after reports that the barriers broke during sex and were “porous.”
ABC news reported that the health department of the Free State province distributed the condoms to hotels and bars in the city of Bloemfontein just before the the African National Congress’ centennial celebrations between Jan. 6 – 8.
Complaints poured in to a local AIDS activism group’s office days after the celebration, prompting the Treatment Action Campaign to run tests. A spokesperson there said the condoms leaked when they poured water into them.
The recalled condoms were stamped by the South African Bureau of Standards to certify inspection and that the contraceptives met standards set by the World Health Organization. The Bureau is investigating the condoms.
South Africa is no stranger to condom recalls. In 2007, the country recalled 20 million faulty condoms. Local media reported a Bureau of Standards testing manager took a bribe to certify the less-than-functional condoms. The next year, South Africa recalled another 5 million defective condoms.
The spokesperson at the Treatment Action Campaign complained that the South African government limited the recall to department workers attending the celebrations; the spokesperson worries that the country should initiate a nationwide recall since many condoms could have left Bloemfontein and been used or will be used in outlying parts of the country.
Much of the concern centered around the possibility of spreading HIV/AIDS between partners. South Africa has the world’s highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS at 5.6 million.
For anyone in South Africa or who traveled through South Africa earlier in January who may have used or picked up condoms, it is recommended to get post-exposure tests and to double check that the condoms aren’t part of the recall.
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