To the United States, in July 2020 the health officials of the State ofAlaska reported that the epidemic of syphilis, which was reported in 2018, more than doubled in magnitude from 2018 to 2019.
Epidemiologists say 242 cases of syphilis were reported in 2019, a 112% increase from 2018, when 114 cases were recorded. No cases of congenital syphilis have been reported.
Two-thirds of primary and secondary syphilis cases were reported in men, almost evenly split between men who have sex with men (44%) and men who have sex with women.
Many factors contribute to the transmission of syphilis. The following factors were identified among the 222 patients interviewed:
- 79 (33%) reported use of methamphetamine and / or heroin;
- 67 (28%) had a history of incarceration in the 12 months preceding the interview;
- 58 (24%) were homeless.
Syphilis reminders :
The syphilis is a contagious sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria called Treponema pallidum. The bacteria are transmitted through unprotected sex (vaginal, anal or oral), through the blood (transfusion or rarely use contaminated material) and transplacental during pregnancy, from mother to child. The incubation period is 3 weeks to 1 month.
The syphilis classically evolves in several successive stages:
In the primary stage, the disease does not always have obvious signs. When they exist, it is an ulceration (the inoculation chancre), a small pink wound, hollow, clean, and painless, which is found at the level of the sheath of the penis, on the glans, or at the level of the vagina or vulva. This extremely contagious lesion is accompanied by significant lymphadenopathy.
In the absence of treatment, the disease progresses to the secondary stage three to ten weeks after the chancre and corresponds to a general spread of treponema in the body, and is accompanied by multiple eruptions on the skin and / or on the mucous membranes (without itching ): it’s roseola.
The tertiary stage, which has become very rare, only appears after years of development (3 to 15 years on average after the chancre, in 10% of untreated patients) and presents with cardiovascular, nerve and joint damage. .
Travelers are strongly recommended to use a condom with any new sexual partner.
Source : Outbreak News Today.
–
