Los Angeles County health officials said Thursday that at least 16 additional unpublicized cases of HIV have been confirmed in adult film performers.

The newly released data bring the number of HIV cases in porn performers in the last five years to 22, including the case disclosed this week.

In 2004, a porn star named Darren James shut down the entire porn industry for a month after he infected three of his co-stars with HIV. Health advocates are using this new disclosure as an opportunity to push for mandatory condoms in all porn shoots. The porn industry responds, collectively, "No." Although:

Since 2004, 2,378 people who identified themselves as adult film industry performers have tested positive for chlamydia in Los Angeles County. An additional 1,357 tested positive for gonorrhea and 15 for syphilis, according to data released Thursday by the county's health department.

What is porn about if not safety and health?
[LAT]

According to the complaint, Morales assaulted her "on or about May 19, 2006, whereby Defendant forcibly...had sex with Plaintiff over her repeated verbal protests and attempts to escape."

Mazzocchi alleges that Morales physically assaulted her in a separate incident in November, 2006, "[k]icking, punching and chasing Plaintiff which resulted in Plaintiff calling 911."

Mazzocchi further charges Morales with intentionally infecting her with herpes, according to court papers obtained by CelebTV.com. In addition to the explosive claims of sexual and physical violence, Mazzocchi claims the "NYPD Blue" actor owes her $25,000.

While the scandalous accusations are certainly nothing any working actor would actively court, Morales may find a silver lining in the unwelcome publicity, when producers and casting directors throw out, "Hey, what about the one with all the rape and the herpes? Is he available?" instead of gravitating towards one of Morales's more sought-after, less controversial peers like Benjamin Bratt or Jimmy Smits.

• CELEBTV.COM EXCLUSIVE: ESAI MORALES SEX SCANDAL [CelebTV.com]