Latest news with #syphilis
CBC
4 hours ago
- Health
- CBC
How discarded needle data and pop-up STI testing could reduce Sask.'s infection rates
Social Sharing A new research project in Regina is using geo-data on discarded needles around the city and pop-up testing sites for sexually-transmitted infections to improve health-care access and reduce Saskatchewan's high rates of HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis. The project is a partnership between AIDS Programs South Saskatchewan (APSS) and the University of Regina. The team said the project is the first of its kind in Canada and on Monday they invited media to a mock pop-up testing event to see how it works. "We are creating maps based on discarded needles, and where there is open drug use and public drug use, and bringing the type of care people need directly to them," said Heather House, a U of R research assistant involved in the project. "This is bringing care into the community and meeting people where they're at." The project takes data from APSS's website where people can submit reports about discarded needles found in Regina. Since 2021, APSS volunteers have collected more than 38,000 discarded needles. The geo-data helps researchers determine where the pop-up testing sites could be most effective. The pop-ups will appear in parks, parking lots and at agencies that help vulnerable populations. Saskatchewan had the worst rate of HIV infections in Canada in 2023, according to a 2024 Public Health Agency of Canada report. The 2023 infection rate was 19.4 per 100,000 people, more than three times the national rate of 6.1 per 100,000. The province also has some of the country's highest rates of hepatitis C and syphilis. Some people are reluctant to seek health care on their own because of discrimination or stigma associated with drug use, APSS executive director Shiny Mary Varghese said, adding that the project hopes to find out if these rapid-response interventions are effective in reducing STI infection rates. "It's a little difficult to reach out to people if we are not accessible, so if we go out to people then there are more chances that people are more willing to get tested," Varghese said. A Regina study wants to reduce Saskatchewan's nation-leading rates of HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis 5 hours ago A Regina project called 3 Infections, 1 Fight is setting up a first-of-its-kind study in Canada. People can also connect with community supports for sexual health and drug use. The research team includes people like Jason Littleford, who know what users are going through. "Thinking back to when I was in that position, talking with somebody that had experience or knew what they were talking about would make things a lot easier," said Littleford, a peer navigator with the project.
Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Urgent warning for residents in the Northern Territory as cases of sexually transmitted infection explode
Medical experts are warning residents in the Northern Territory to get tested for syphilis following an explosion in cases of the potentially deadly infection. The NT has recorded more than 183 cases of syphilis so far this year, following back-to-back near-record months since an outbreak began in 2013. Consistently high case numbers prompted the territory's top medical officer to establish a dedicated response team, the syphilis Incident Management Team (IMT) in February. Syphilis can be particularly devastating for pregnant women, leading to miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, low birth weight and congenital syphilis. Australian Medical Association NT president Dr John Zorbas acknowledged the numbers were high, but suggested better testing could be contributing to the spike. 'Sometimes a large increase in case numbers is a good thing,' he told NT News. 'That means we're doing more testing, we're finding these cases and we're actually getting those cases treated.' Of the 183 cases identified in the NT from January 1 to June 22, 93 per cent of cases were successfully treated, a government spokesperson told the publication. Syphilis is a sexually-transmissible infection (STI) usually caused by having vaginal, oral or anal sex with an infected person, through pregnancy and, in rare cases, through skin-to-skin contact. While it is easy to cure if found early, it can cause serious illness, disability and even death if left untreated. The IMT advised pregnant women to test five times across the course of a pregnancy - at the outset, at 28 weeks, at 36 weeks, at birth and six weeks after birth. It also recommended testing for all people aged 15 years and older presenting to any health service including primary health care and emergency departments. Common symptoms include sores or ulcers in the genital areas, anus, cervix or mouth, rash, skin lesions, swollen lymph glands, fever, patchy hair loss, muscle and joint aches, headaches, tiredness and warty lumps. Not all patients will present with symptoms, however, meaning regular testing is crucial to ensure the disease does not cause long-term damage. Syphilis can spread to the nervous system, known as neurosyphilis, which can lead to headaches, altered behaviour, difficulty coordinating muscle movements, paralysis, numbness and even dementia. It can also spread to the eye, known as ocular syphilis, which can cause vision loss, blurred vision, eye pain, eye redness and even permanent blindness. Syphilis was almost entirely eradicated in Australia by the early 2000s but cases have exploded following an outbreak in north-west Queensland in 2011. Since then, the disease has spread nationwide with outbreaks currently active in Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia. Case numbers across the country increased 400 per cent between 2011 and 2023, with a disproportionate impact on Indigenous Australian communities. The NT has been hit hardest by the outbreak, with its per capita rate more than five times higher than any other jurisdiction at its peak in 2018. To avoid contracting syphilis, the Department of Health recommends people should get tested regularly and avoid sexual activity while unwell. It also recommends using condoms with condom-safe lubricants during vaginal and anal sex and dental dams during oral sex. You should see your doctor or visit a family planning clinic or sexual health clinic if you are concerned you or anyone you have had sexual contact with has syphilis.
Medscape
09-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Rare Yet Alarming: US Study Maps Syphilitic Uveitis Trends
Between 2013 and 2024, syphilitic uveitis remained a rare but serious manifestation of syphilis in the United States, predominantly affecting men, older individuals, and patients with concurrent HIV, and frequently resulting in low vision and blindness. METHODOLOGY: Researchers analyzed data from a national clinical database to determine the incidence and prevalence of syphilitic uveitis in the United States, as well as the rates of sexually transmitted coinfections and associated ocular complications. Participants with syphilitic uveitis were identified using diagnostic codes for uveitis and positive treponemal and nontreponemal test for syphilis obtained within 1 month of a diagnosis of uveitis. Data collection included demographic information and rates of concurrent sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, gonorrhea, and chlamydia; these infections were recorded if diagnosed at the time of, or within 1 month after, a diagnosis of uveitis. Ocular complications included macular edema and low vision or blindness, identified at the time of a diagnosis of uveitis or within 6 months thereafter. TAKEAWAY: The researchers identified 161,317 cases of syphilis and 237 cases of syphilitic uveitis; from 2013 to 2024, the cumulative incidence and prevalence rates of syphilitic uveitis were 0.36 and 0.27 per 100,000 individuals, respectively, with both incidence and prevalence increasing over this period. Compared with the general population in the same database, patients with syphilitic uveitis were more likely to be men and older. HIV was the most common concurrent sexually transmitted infection, occurring in 32.49% of cases; gonorrhea and chlamydia occurred less frequently, at 4.22%. The most common complication was low vision or blindness, occurring predominantly in patients with panuveitis or posterior uveitis. IN PRACTICE: 'Our findings reinforce the need for ordering syphilis testing at uveitis presentation and the prompt initiation of intravenous antibiotic therapy thereafter to prevent irreversible ocular damage,' the researchers wrote. SOURCE: The study was led by Lucy Ruoxi Zhou, of the Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. It was published online on June 4, 2025, in the American Journal of Ophthalmology . LIMITATIONS: The reliance on electronic health record databases may have introduced coding variability and inaccuracies. The requirement for syphilis testing to occur within 1 month after a diagnosis of uveitis potentially excluded patients tested before or on the same day as their diagnosis or those experiencing diagnostic delays longer than 1 month. This study could not assess prescribed treatments and changes in clinical endpoints, including improvement in vision or resolution of macular edema after treatment. DISCLOSURES: One author received support from the Hankins and Dracopoulos Uveitis Research Funds.
Daily Mail
08-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
STI map of Britain! As cases of terrifying syphilis soar, is your area a hotspot for one of the 5 biggest sexual diseases?
Where you live could have a big impact on your risk of catching an STI—with some areas of the UK being hit far worse by infections than others, new figures reveal. Fresh analysis of 2024 data reveals stark regional differences, with parts of London among the worst affected. The South London borough of Lambeth tops the national table, with the highest rate of sexually transmitted infections in England. In 2024, Lambeth recorded more than 3,250 new diagnoses per 100,000 people—equal to just over three per cent of the local population. Meanwhile, Forest of Dean is the place where you're least likely to pick up an STI, with rates as low as 201 per 100,000. Now, MailOnline has created an interactive map showing how areas compare for infections including syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia. It comes as health officials warn that syphilis cases have surged to the highest level since the late 1940s. Once again, Lambeth was the epicentre, with 138 syphilis cases per 100,000 people. It was followed by Westminster (131) and Southwark (107), continuing the trend of central and south London boroughs being disproportionately affected. Lambeth also recorded the highest rate of gonorrhoea at 1,114 cases per 100,000 people—about one in every 100 residents—followed by the City of London (958) and Southwark (867). The national average was just 124. Although overall gonorrhoea cases dropped by 16 per cent last year, experts are raising concerns over a rise in drug-resistant strains—dubbed super-gonorrhoea. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed 14 cases of the hard-to-treat big had already been detected by May 2025—more than the 13 reported in all of 2024. The city of Lincoln in Lincolnshire that took top spot for chlamydia with 1,390 cases per 100,000, again equivalent to one in every 100 people have the STI. This was followed by Lambeth which recorded 1,182 cases per 100,000 and Hackney with 1,015. The national chlamydia rate in 2024 was 293 cases per 100,000 people, making it the most prevalent STI in the country. Hammersmith and Fulham in west London recorded the highest rate of genital herpes last year with 192 cases per 100,000 people. This was followed by—yet again—Lambeth with 157 cases per 100,000 and Southwark with 146. The national rate was 48 cases of genital herpes per 100,000 people. But Lambeth didn't make the top three for genital warts. Instead it was Hackney which took the crown with 142 cases per 100,000 people. This was followed by the City of London with 134 cases per 100,000 people followed narrowly by Hammersmith and Fulham with 132 cases. Following Lambeth for total STI cases per 100,000 people was Southwark with 2,787 and Hackney with 2,680. For comparison, the national rate was 632 STIs per 100,000. Most STIs are curable if detected early, but many have no symptoms—meaning people can unknowingly spread them to others. Left untreated, they can cause serious complications, including infertility, chronic pain, and even organ damage in the case of syphilis. Speaking earlier this week Dr Hamish Mohammed, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA said: 'These infections can have a major impact on your health and that of any sexual partners – particularly if they are antibiotic resistant,' he said. 'If you've had condomless sex with new or casual partners—either in the UK or overseas—get tested for STIs and HIV at least yearly, even if you don't have symptoms. 'Regular testing protects both you and those you're having sex with.' Experts continue to stress: prevention is better than cure, and safe sex matters wherever you live.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
OSDH confirms spike in homeless syphilis cases, metro woman trying to change that
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Syphilis cases are on the rise, specifically among the homeless population. Numbers from the state health department show a spike in an area of Oklahoma County. However, a metro woman is doing what she can to help them out. 'I love you too, Mr. Ronny,' Delisa Jones said to a client on Friday as she helped him find some clothes. Service Oklahoma warns residents of text scam Love and care are two things you can always find at Second Chances Thrift Store in northwest Oklahoma City. 'It's born from my life story,' Jones, the owner of the thrift store, said. 'So, my life's journey is to help men and women who are just like me.' Jones's life story of addiction, prison, and even being sold into sex trafficking brought her here. For the past eight years, she's owned the thrift store at that location off N. MacArthur Boulevard. It's a thrift store inside, but it doubles as a ministry. 'We focus on men and women who are struggling with homelessness, addiction, mental health issues,' Jones said. 'People are coming out of jail and prison, human trafficking, sex trafficking, and domestic violence.' From clothing to shoes, food, and even a spot to settle down and find shade, Jones does what she can to meet their needs. 'Because they're human, they're God's children, and because I love them,' she said. She also keeps track of their health, testing for Syphilis at her store with test strips. There's been a recent spike within the people she cares for. 'I know that we want to get them healthy as they are testing positive,' she said. Jones, who partners with the state health department to keep up with the health of the vulnerable population, has made it her mission to change it. 'Keeping them healthy is important, and that somebody's seeing them and loving them is even more important for sure,' she said. Delisa owns another thrift store in Edmond, and it's been open for a little over a year. News 4 has reached out to the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) for details on the situation. They did say they've seen a spike in an area of Oklahoma County. OSDH provided the following statement on Friday: Oklahoma has been responding to increases in syphilis cases statewide over the last several years. Currently, we are working about 40 cases in a small, localized area within Oklahoma County. To be proactive in reaching more at-risk individuals and increasing awareness, we began robust testing and outreach efforts. As with all public health strategies, we work closely with our partners on prevention measures and connecting individuals to needed services and referrals. Oklahoma State Department of Health Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
