Four Cities Succeed Fighting Syphilis

In 1999, syphilis was at its lowest point ever in the United States, but it was on an upward swing in Nashville, Tenn., Baltimore, Indianapolis, Memphis, Tenn., and Detroit. Outbreaks of the STD were so bad in Baltimore that the city became the butt of jokes on late-night television. That year, the CDC urged those cities with the highest number of new cases to find ways to eliminate the disease. Since then, significant declines in new cases have been reported in each city -- except Detroit. The other cities were able to quickly identify high-risk groups, better analyze data, get help from community groups and find innovative ways to educate the public.

Here are a few ways cities have slowed the epidemic:

• In Baltimore, community leaders met to create a Syphilis Elimination Rapid Response Program, a blueprint to address the problem. Also, community groups were awarded $30,000 grants after submitting proposals for eliminating the disease. As of June 30, Baltimore reported 53 cases, compared to 246 cases in 1999.

• Indianapolis health officials increased the number of disease intervention specialists to 15 from seven; conducted a door-to-door campaign, visiting 220 high-risk locations; sponsored screenings in ethnic restaurants and laundries; asked community health centers to look for new syphilis cases; and sponsored syphilis screenings for Planned Parenthood. By the end of August, the city reported 24 cases for the year, compared to 407 in 1999.
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• In 1998, the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department director decided to reorganize the infectious disease department. The department implemented extensive jail screenings and distribution of tickets to concerts, festivals and football games to people who took syphilis and HIV tests. The department was recognized by the US surgeon general for its partnership with an African-American pastors' organization, which sponsored testing at churches. As of this month, the city reported 67 cases this year, down from 258 in 1999.

• In addition to reorganizing the Health Department, Nashville offered more training to staff. A county jail-screening program was launched, and all people arrested were screened. The city reported 22 cases as of Aug. 1, down from 250 cases in 1999.

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