Illinois: Syphilis Cases Climbing; Lake County Sees Jump

Significant jumps in the number of syphilis cases reported in Chicago-area counties in the first three months of 2003 have put health officials on alert, especially since the sores associated with the disease increase by up to five times the likelihood of contracting HIV and hepatitis.

In the Chicago area, "it is starting to look like one of every four cases is co-infected with HIV," said Colette Petit, STD clinic charge nurse for the DuPage County Health Department. Officials do not yet know how the outbreak will affect suburban HIV rates.

Chicago led the nation in new syphilis cases in 2001; more recently, it has ranked second nationally in the number of cases. Although city numbers have stabilized, the disease has spread to outlying areas. Suburban Cook County saw an 80 percent increase in new cases -- from 50 in 2001 to 90 in 2002. This year, only 28 cases have been reported through September in suburban Cook County, but the area is still considered by CDC to be in the midst of an outbreak.

DuPage County numbers increased from 10 total in 2002 to 16 for the first nine months of 2003. During the first three months of 2002 and 2003, Lake County cases jumped from zero to four but have since leveled off.

Double-digit percentage increases have yet to hit nearby counties like Will and Kane, although health officials say it may just be a matter of time. "Pathogens and human behavior don't respect boundaries on a map," said Thad Zajdowicz, Chicago Public Health Department medical director for the HIV/STD program.

Right now, syphilis increases are showing up primarily among white men -- and to a lesser extent Latino men -- having sex with other men. Illinois health officials are split on whether enough bisexual men are functioning as crossover carriers to spread the disease to the heterosexual community, as is occurring in Detroit.

According to Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, deputy director for CDC's HIV, STD and TB prevention programs, "Our challenge -- and the challenge for gay and bisexual communities across America -- is to underscore the connections between syphilis and HIV, and renew the kind of commitment these communities brought to HIV prevention in the early years of the epidemic."

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