Syphilis Cases Rise Sharply
The CDC has warned of a disproportionate increase in syphilis in Alaska and has called for prevention and control measures. Epidemiologist Andrea Caballero notes a 20-fold increase in cases by 2022, but that “it isn’t the only sexually transmitted disease of great concern in the state.”The Alaska Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that it has detected a rapid increase in syphilis in most regions of the state. The most troubling cases detected are those of congenital syphilis, which can cause severe nerve damage, bone deformities, blindness, and even death in the fetus or infant shortly after birth.
Dr. Andrea Caballero tells us that she personally has not seen any cases of congenital syphilis in her practice, but she knows that 424 cases were reported in 2022, “which means that the number of cases increased more than twentyfold this year compared to the average of previous years.” Dr. Caballero is an epidemiologist. There are only five epidemiology specialists like her in the entire state. “This disproportionate increase in syphilis cases has to do with the difficulties many people have in accessing the health system,” she assures Sol de Medianoche. “It was a disease in decline at the end of the last century, but since the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, it has come back with a vengeance. This is because during the pandemic people were seen more through telemedicine and less in consultation; it was difficult to see a doctor in person.” Another disease that concerns Dr. Caballero is HIV. “AIDS and syphilis are highly stigmatized, and the patient may feel shame and social reproach. But syphilis affects all types of people equally, even babies before they are born. The best way to fight sexually transmitted diseases is through prophylaxis (prevention), precautions, and regular checkups.” The Alaska CDC recommends more precautions and more screenings for sexually active adults under the age of 45. At a minimum, it recommends testing once a year. A recommendation that falls short of the guidelines proposed by Alaska’s chief medical officer, Dr. Anne Zink, who advocates that Alaskans be tested “every time they have a new sexual partner and every three to six months if they have multiple partners.” “Alaska health officials have not provided demographic data on the population that has become ill,” says Dr. Caballero. But it is more prudent to intensify controls (every three months, as Anne Zink says), especially for women, “who can become pregnant and transmit the disease to the child they carry.” “Monogamous and stable couples have nothing to fear. But anyone who has sex with more than one partner at a time, or who changes partners regularly, should get tested. It doesn’t matter what kind of partner they have or what their sexual orientation is. Getting tested regularly and taking precautions is a civic duty and a responsibility to the community,” says Andrea Caballero. |