Syphilis Cases in NYC rise by 55% in 2002

[Guest feisty1]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/31/nyregion/31SYPH.html

 

Some choice excerpts:

 

"Dr. Frieden said the number of new cases, while small, underscores the alarming rate at which syphilis is resurfacing on the streets of New York. Recent studies have shown steady increases in syphilis cases in cities like Los Angeles, Miami and Houston, he said. 'This is a very troubling multicity outbreak that is almost exclusive among men who have sex with men,' he said."

 

"Perhaps most disturbing, health officials said, was that 230 of the men diagnosed as having syphilis last year were also carrying H.I.V. About 70 percent of the men in the study said they knowingly risked the health of their sexual partners."

 

"Gay organizations were troubled by the study. "It shows the magnitude of the challenge of promoting safe sex and the message of prevention," said Ronald Johnson, associate executive director of the Gay Men's Health Crisis. Two years ago, the group added syphilis testing to its H.I.V. testing services."

 

What the hell is the matter with people?

 

Michael

<N.P. : "Perish" - Curve>

[Guest rizzuto]

I'll confess to near total ignorance about syphillis, especially how it's transmitted. Is it transmitted like HIV (virus in blood or semen, usually needs to be transmitted directly into blood stream), like Herpes (skin-to-skin contact with infected area), or transmitted some other way?

 

What should I do to reduce my risk of getting it (before, during, and after sex)? Obviously the same caveats as HIV apply re: safe vs. safer, abstinence, etc.

[CT Dick]

The CDC has a great syphilis fact page:

 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/Fact_Sheets/Syphilis_Facts.htm

 

Dick

[jack]

CT, nice follow up. Useful. Instructive. Thank you.