New syphilis record expected
Syphilis cases among local gay men will reach a record number this year, more than double last year based on early 2007 data from NSW Health.
Cases in Sydney’s south-east and inner south-west have almost matched the previous peak of new syphilis infections in 2004, causing health agencies to rethink responses to the disease.
Half of recorded cases were HIV-positive gay men, and the highest represented age group were 35 and older.
While local syphilis rates had declined over the previous two years, the latest rise has been seen around the country and in New Zealand, similar to long-standing problems in San Francisco and London.
Sydney Sexual Health Centre director Anna McNulty said most of the people who were diagnosed came in for a routine STI check and were not aware of symptoms.
Later symptoms like a rash, fever, and tiredness were not often identified as syphilis related, she said, so a GP might head in the wrong direction.
“We’re particularly concerned about the rising syphilis cases because it’s ulcerative and there’s an increased risk of HIV transmission at that stage,” McNulty said.
“Patients often aren’t aware you can acquire syphilis through oral sex. Having safe sex in terms of HIV won’t stop syphilis because it’s transmissible skin to skin.”
ACON’s community health director Nick Corrigan said groups most at risk were sexually adventurous and group sex participants that were already a source of concern for new HIV infections.
The health body has launched a new syphilis testing campaign targeting these at-risk groups as well as partygoers, hoping to avert a return of high levels of new HIV cases.
“Men who have lots of sex partners are being encouraged to have a syphilis test in October, even they’ve had one already this year,” Corrigan said.
Syphilis can be identified with a simple blood test and treated with a single penicillin injection or antibiotic tablets.
McNulty said it was important for all recent sexual partners to be told and treated, even if their individual tests were negative.
