The human papillomavirus (HPV) is spreading to a person near you.

Considered the most common sexually transmitted disease, HPV is on the rise in Bermuda and, according to Dr. J.J. Soares (pictured) , general practitioner and director of Hamilton Medical Centre, it is difficult to determine accurate numbers because most people don't even know they have it.

While there are many strains of HPV, two strains are reported to cause 70 per cent of all cervical cancer cases and two others cause 90 per cent of all genital wart cases.

Luckily for women in Bermuda, a vaccine to protect against the four dangerous strains became available earlier this year ¿ and now they can get vaccinated during their lunch break without an appointment at Dr. Soares' one-stop shop.

See Page 5 for more on HPV and vaccine.