Genesee County Health Department
Better Life Through Better Health
Release Date: For Immediate Release
Contact Person: Mark Valacak
Community Health Director
Genesee County Health Department
Phone: (810) 257-3812
RE: Syphilis Outbreak in
Genesee County
The Genesee County Health Department (GCHD) is
reporting a current syphilis outbreak in Genesee County. So far in 2008, 33
cases of syphilis have been reported in Genesee County. In 2007, there were
15 total cases of syphilis.
Those who are at high risk of contracting syphilis or
suspect they may have syphilis should be tested. Syphilis and other sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs) can only be diagnosed and treated by a health
care provider. The GCHD is encouraging health care providers to identify
symptoms of STDs and to increase screening for syphilis and other STDs in at
risk populations.
Certain risk behaviors that increase the likelihood of
contracting syphilis have been associated with this outbreak. These include
having unprotected sex with multiple partners and participating in the
exchange of sex for drugs or money. Transmission of syphilis is also being
seen among men who have sex with men in Genesee County.
Health officials from the Michigan Department of
Community Health (MDCH) have been assigned to work with the GCHD to assist
with outbreak control activities. These activities include treating and
educating people with syphilis, finding their sexual contacts to provide
testing, treatment, and education, and providing support to health care
providers with testing and patient follow-up. The GCHD is also engaging in
ongoing efforts to distribute information regarding syphilis and its
prevention to the health care community, those at risk, and the general
public.
Syphilis is a
curable STD caused by a bacterium. Syphilis is
passed from person to person through direct contact with a syphilis rash or
sore. The
primary stage of syphilis is usually marked by the appearance of a single
painless sore (called a chancre), but there may be multiple sores. Skin rash
and mucous membrane lesions characterize the secondary stage. The latent
(hidden) stage of syphilis begins when primary and secondary symptoms
disappear. Without treatment, the infected person will continue to have
syphilis even though there are no signs or symptoms.
In the late stages of syphilis, the disease may
subsequently damage the internal organs, including the brain, nerves, eyes,
heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints.
The syphilis bacterium can infect the baby of a
woman during her pregnancy. Depending on how long a pregnant woman has been
infected, she may have a high risk of having a stillbirth (a baby born dead)
or of giving birth to a baby who dies shortly after birth.
For more
information about syphilis and STD testing please call (810) 257-3887 or
visit the
GCHD website at www.gchd.us.
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