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Prompted by more than a
two-fold increase in syphilis cases over the last three years, Virginia
health officials on Monday kicked off an education campaign to increase
awareness about the infection.
In 2003, cases in the state hit a historic low. "We were talking about
actually eliminating the disease. as a public health problem," said Robert
Johnson, director of outbreak response for the Virginia Health Department.
Then in 2004, cases of the STD started increasing by double-digit
percentages. Syphilis
increased 31 percent, to 352 cases, last year. In the first quarter of 2007,
cases spiked 39 percent compared with the same period for 2006.
According to health officials, the increase is linked mainly to transmission
among men who have sex with men. In some instances, these men are
HIV-positive and are no longer practicing safe sex; others may not be
heeding safe-sex warnings, said officials.
Syphilis' resurgence in Virginia mirrors what is occurring nationally,
including in the District of Columbia. In 2000, the District recorded a
record-low 38 cases. By last year, that number was 115. In Virginia, almost
two-thirds of syphilis cases last year were among African Americans.
District cases were almost equally divided between blacks and whites.
Maryland has managed to buck the trend. In 2005, the most recent year for
which figures are available, it recorded 313 syphilis cases, down from 380
the year before.
Virginia officials are focusing their education efforts in Northern Virginia
and the Norfolk and Richmond areas. Signs promoting testing are being posted
in 125 buses on routes across Fairfax County and into Arlington. Beginning
in June, local radio and cable stations will broadcast awareness
announcements in English and Spanish.
Washington Post (05.08.07):: Susan Levine |
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