Syphilis Catches Prevention Officials by Surprise
As appeared in The Advocate
Federal health officials armed with new data showing gay men are behind a significant increase in syphilis are pleading with local communities to help stop the disease.
The report showed the first increase in syphilis transmissions since 1990 and while the increase was two percent amongst the whole population, experts were most concerned by a 15.4 percent increase among men.
“This increase coincided with outbreaks of syphilis among gay and bisexual men of all races in several American cities,” says Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, the deputy director of the CDC’s Program for HIV and STD prevention. Valdiserri noted that cities with significant gay populations had the greatest increase. On the list: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle and Miami.
What worries health officials the most is the troubling connection between syphilis and HIV transmission. Officials say syphilis increases the risk of HIV transmission by two to five times.
“Our challenge and the challenge for gay and bisexual communities across America is to underscore the connections between syphilis and HIV and to renew the kind of commitment that these communities brought to HIV prevention in the early years of the epidemic,” says Valdiserri. “Syphilis itself is a major concern but it also signals the potential for a resurgence of HIV.”
Why the increase? The CDC says gays are treating STD prevention less serious in light of improved STD treatments or are ignorant to HIV transmission. “There’s a sea change in the communities’ perception about sexual risk and sexual health and it’s a really difficult and challenging problem,” says Valdiserri. “The perception is that HIV is no longer an issue and that practicing safe sex is no longer an issue because the disease has been licked. Unfortunately, that’s wrong.”
Prevention officials plan to intensify their efforts by working with local health departments. In their arsenal are a number of creative campaigns including mobile testing for syphilis, educational outreach at bars and clubs and Internet campaigns to stem transmission.
Prevention volunteers at the Stop AIDS Project in San Francisco knew syphilis was on the rise and are planning special campaigns to reach the community. “We’re planning a number of upcoming intervention events designed to inform people about and stop the transmission of syphilis,” says Shana Krochmal spokesperson for the group.
Valdiserri says it will be these programs that will stop syphilis. “Ultimately it will depend on the community to carefully target prevention resources to gay and bisexual men most at risk.”
