Auckland Sexual Health Service has announced an alarming 53 per cent increase in cases of Syphilis since 2003. Of the diagnosed cases, 82.5 per cent were men, almost half of whom have a history of same-sex relations. However similar outbreaks in other developed countries recently showed that the majority of cases involved men who have sex with other men, and significant proportions of those men had also been HIV positive. Auckland figures are much higher than the rest of New Zealand, with the region making up 63% of cases. The ASHS cite serious concern over the new statistics, particularly after recent reports of a national rise in HIV infection. They say Syphilis, more than other bacterial STDs, is known to markedly enhance HIV transmission. Spokesperson Sunita Azariah is calling for immediate intervention measures, such as compulsory reporting of new cases, targeted campaigns and screening programmes.