Wellington's Sexual Health Service has had several cases of syphilis in the capital's gay community this year, and many more in Auckland - leading experts to again remind sexually active people to get tested for the medieval disease. Syphilis is a bacterial infection transmitted through sexual contact – whether oral, anal, or vaginal – which then spreads through the body via the bloodstream. Although easily cured, the infection can have debilitating long-term effects if left untreated. Dr Jane MacDonald of Wellington Sexual Health says full statistics on syphilis for this year are not available yet, but anecdotally, there have been many cases - though numbers are down a little from the outbreak this time last year. "It's impossible to say whether that's just luck, whether people are asymptomatic, or not being seen," says MacDonald of the decrease. "I think it's going to take another year or so to really come to grips with it, so we are still cautious." Since most people who are tested at GP's or Sexual Health clinics are asked for detailed information about their sexual history, health experts can confirm syphilis is predominantly affecting men who have sexual contact with other men. "In Wellington it's mostly men who have sex with men - but they may not necessarily identify as gay," says MacDonald. "In Auckland it's been 50% of cases between men, 50% between heterosexuals." MacDonald is concerned people are not following the safe sex practices which prevent STI's from spreading. Syphilis is passed on via skin contact, or when giving or receiving anal or oral sex without a condom. GayNZ.com understands the Ministry of Health is considering new legislation to help combat the syphilis outbreak. A proposed law change would make the infection 'named', meaning the full names of people with syphilis will be sent to the medical officer of health, in a move designed to improve contact tracing. This would be a step forward from other STI's like HIV or Chlamydia, where details such as gender, age, and ethnicity can be tracked if the individuals volunteer the information, but names are not listed. Check the Get Tested website below for details about how you can get checked for syphilis. Ref: GayNZ.com (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Sunday, 9th September 2007 - 12:51pm