Georgia Leads U.S. as Syphilis Increases

Georgia's rate of syphilis cases led the nation last year as the disease re-emerged among gay and bisexual men, CDC announced yesterday. The STD's increase is likely linked to rising numbers of HIV/AIDS cases among men who have sex with men.

Atlanta recorded the third-highest urban rate of syphilis, behind San Francisco and Detroit. Although the South is an area traditionally rife with STDs, Georgia and the rest of the country witnessed a decline in the 1990s.

Since 1999, CDC has targeted syphilis elimination, especially in the South and among minority populations. But given the new statistics, CDC said Thursday that it must redouble education and prevention efforts targeted to gay and bisexual men.

"This campaign against syphilis is now being waged on two fronts," said Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, deputy director of CDC's National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention. "We are working on one front to sustain the progress made among populations formerly hit by syphilis, including African Americans. On the second front, we're combating new challenges among gay and bisexual men."

A recent 25-state study shows a nearly 18 percent increase in HIV in the last four years among MSM. In New York City, syphilis cases tripled from 2000 to 2002, with half of the new cases in the gay community, according to Dr. Susan Blank, a New York City health official. Veronica Hartwell of the Georgia Division of Public Health said public and private health clinics should emphasize the importance of STD screening. The state so far has partnered with faith-based groups and targeted venues frequented by men to get the message out, she said.

Rankings for primary and secondary syphilis cases per 100,000 people for 2002 are as follows: Georgia -- 439 cases/5.4 rate; Michigan -- 486/4.9; Florida -- 617/3.9; Illinois -- 479/3.9; Arizona -- 200/3.9. U.S. total cases in 2002 were 6,862/2.4.

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