An outbreak of syphilis has hit Wellington, according the region's top sexual health practitioner, who has issued a broad call to gay and bisexual men to get tested now. Syphilis is more easily spread than HIV and, although easily cured, can have debilitating long-term effects if left untreated. Syphilis is spread through unprotected oral and anal sex, and as most men who have sex with men do not use condoms for oral sex, the infection has spread like wildfire, particularly through anonymous sexual encounters. Syphilis is often thought of as a medieval infection, and has been rare in recent decades, says Dr Jane MacDonald, Clinical Director of Wellington Sexual Health. “Some people don't have any symptoms in the initial stages. Some people develop nasty looking but reasonably painless ulcers on the genitals or the mouth or anus…” Unless these sores are visible, infected men may not notice them, and continue to spread the disease, which is “incredibly infectious.” Furthermore, the risk of contracting HIV rises twenty times for men who have unsafe anal sex with men who are HIV positive, due to the open, yet hidden sores, says MacDonald. “And the other side of that is, if somebody is HIV positive, and they then contract syphilis, the potential of transmitting HIV is much higher.” Douglas Jenkin, Team Co-ordinator for the New Zealand AIDS Foundation's Gay Men's Health programme, agrees, adding that “for men who are already HIV+, it is also a worry because it lowers your CD4 cell count and increases your viral load.” The NZAF is aware of the Wellington outbreak, and will be launching a new Wellington safe-sex campaign in about a month to raise awareness of dangers of syphilis, and to encourage gay and bisexual men to get tested. Dr MacDonald encourages gay and bisexual men to urgently seek testing at their local sexual health clinic. Men at risk include anyone who has had oral sex with another man or unprotected anal sex, outside of a monogamous relationship, says MacDonald. “The best thing people can do, if they're worried, if they have any symptoms they're worried about, but just if they feel they've been at risk, is to come in. It's easy to do a check, we have the results available within about a week,” and men can be tested for other easily treatable infections at the same time. “The bottom line with syphilis is that it's completely treatable,” says MacDonald. Treatment is by way of penicillin, but there are alternatives for those allergic to penicillin, she adds. The NZAF is also encouraging more regular testing. “As with HIV, using condoms for anal sex, no exceptions, offers the best protection from catching syphilis, but as syphilis can be easily contracted through oral sex, we would encourage gay/bi men to have regular sexual health check-ups every three to six months,” says Jenkin. Syphilis is thought to have been brought to Europe from the Americas by Christopher Columbus and his crew, and has afflicted numerous kings, world leaders, composers and artists. Before treatment was available, neurological damage such as paralysis, stroke and dementia, were often associated with the condition. Phone Wellington Sexual Health on 04 385 9879 for an appointment or call 0800 188 881 for your nearest GP who has received specific STD training. Ref: GayNZ.com (d)