USA ProMed: Increase in Syphilis & Gonorrhoea

PRO/EDR> Syphilis & gonococcal dis. - USA (04): (OR) rising incidence, MSM, HIV coinfect.

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promed@promedmail.org	19:35 (1 hour ago)
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SYPHILIS AND GONOCOCCAL DISEASE - USA (04): (OREGON) RISING INCIDENCE,
MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN, HIV COINFECTION
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A ProMED-mail post
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ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Fri 6 Jun 2014
Source: The Body [edited]
<http://www.thebody.com/content/74578/syphilis-gonorrhea-on-the-rise-in-oregon.html>


The Statesman Journal reported that Oregon's syphilis and gonorrhea
rates have increased dramatically in recent years. Syphilis prevalence
recently tied high numbers from more than 2 decades ago and is now
twice the national average. Gonorrhea rates saw a sharp 18-percent
increase between 2012 and 2013. Dr. Sean Schafer, a medical
epidemiologist with the Oregon Health Authority, thinks the numbers
are distressing. "We haven't seen numbers like this since the late
1980s, early 1990s. And this year [2014] is looking like another bad
year," he said.

When syphilis is in its early stage of infection, it is the most
contagious. The 1st symptoms of syphilis, a sore then a rash, often go
undetected and a person can transmit the disease easily to another
person. There was nearly a 25-percent increase of early syphilis cases
between 2012 and 2013, from 312 to 404. This year [2014] has already
seen 2 cases of congenital syphilis in infants, causing one death.

Schafer reports that 96 percent of 2013 syphilis cases were in men,
with 77 percent of them among men who have sex with men. More than 50
percent were coinfected with HIV. 77 percent of 2013 gonorrhea cases
were also among men. Gonorrhea often has no symptoms and is
unknowingly transmitted to other partners. HIV-infected gay men often
choose HIV-positive partners to avoid using condoms, but they still
can transmit STDs. Schafer recommends that all gay men and women
younger than 24 should get a syphilis and gonorrhea test every year.
Both STDs are easily treated with antibiotics if detected early.