Syphilis testing to help keep HIV rates low

The Sydney Convicts were out in force on Thursday night reminding Oxford St patrons about the marked increase in syphilis seen this year.
The boys were handing out fliers at bars as well as putting up posters at sex clubs as part of ACON’s campaign to stamp out syphilis in October.
“Gay men should be looking out for each other,” ACON community health director Nick Corrigan said.
“If every sexually active gay man had an STI test in October, it could break the cycle of infection.”
ACON and epidemiologists were concerned the syphilis outbreak could undermine efforts to keep HIV infections rates stable, because transmission rates increase with an active syphilis infection.
For details on how and where to get tested, visit www.whytest.org.