At least 25,000 cases of cancers associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) occurred annually in 38 states and Washington, D.C., between 1998 and 2003, according to a new study released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The report found that the most common sites for HPV-associated cancers were the cervix, head and neck, anus, vulva, penis and vagina.

There were almost 10,800 HPV-associated cancers located in the cervix each year. According to the report, black and Hispanic women had higher rates of cervical cancer than white and non-Hispanic women.

The survey says there were 7,400 HPV-related cancers of the oral cavity and oropharynx, 3,000 anal cancer cases (about 1,900 occurred in women and 1,100 in men), 2,300 cases of vulvar cancer, and about 800 of penile cancer. White women had higher rates of HPV-associated vulvar cancer than black and Asian/Pacific Islander women.

HPV includes about 100 different viruses, responsible for cervical cancer and genital warts. Of those 100 viruses, approximately 40 of them can trigger genital infections. Of those 40, an estimated 50 percent can cause cancer. The HPV vaccine, called Gardasil, protects against infection of four types of HPV. The vaccine proved to be efficient, especially in the prevention of those four types of the virus. To be most efficient, the cervical cancer vaccine should be administered to girls before they are sexually active. The vaccine was approved by the FDA two years ago.

According to the CDC, more than 30 HPV types can be sexually transmitted. There are many people who carry the virus but don’t develop symptoms or health problems.

Women with a history of cervical cancer have an increased risk of developing noninvasive cancers of the vagina and vulva as well as invasive cancers of the vulva, rectum, and vagina, according to the report.

An estimated 11,070 new cases of cervical cancer will be diagnosed in 2008 in the United States, and 3,870 women will die of it. More than one in four American girls seems to be carrying at least one sexually transmitted disease, with the highest rate in African-American girls. This translates in an estimated 3.2 million U.S. girls ages 14 and 19 having a sexually transmitted infection such as human papillomavirus or HPV, chlamydia, genital herpes or trichomoniasis.

The findings underscore the need to strengthen screening, vaccination and other prevention measures for the disease. Prevention measures and vaccination should be the highest public health priorities.

The results of the study were published online and the study will also appear in the Nov. 15 supplement edition of the journal Cancer.

“This gives us baseline data to measure the impact of HPV vaccine and cervical cancer screening programs in reducing the incidence of cervical cancer and other HPV-associated cancers and precancers,” Dr. Mona Saraiya, who led the study, said in a statement.