Syphilis Outbreak in Michigan County Claims More Patients
by Todd Heywood, New Journalist Fellow
December 1, 2008 - 8:00am (Print)
An outbreak of the sexually transmitted bacterial infection syphilis continues to claim more patients, the Genessee County Health Department confirmed in an interview.
In August with the number of confirmed cases at 70, GCHD spokesman Mark Valacak told RH Reality Check the outbreak was waning.
But now, nearly three months and 39 cases later, the department is ramping up education and outreach again. At least five of the newly diagnosed cases were congenital cases — found in newborns — Valacak said.
“We went for a little while and we saw no cases,” Valacak said of the outbreak. “Then we saw cases in a younger population. Syphilis tends to be in an older demographic. And now we have these congenital cases.”
The number of confirmed cases now puts Genessee County above Detroit as the place with the highest number of reported cases of syphilis in Michigan.
“Very serious,” Valacak said when asked how serious the outbreak was. “In terms of our rates for a community of our size it is of extreme concern.”
Valacak said the department is working hard to raise awareness. It is doing this through a combination of public relations moves, such as posters and signs on buses, as well as outreach to the ob-gyns. The department has also trained outreach workers to go out and work with sex workers.
Valacak said that people should learn the signs and symptoms of syphilis and get tested. “People need to be making sure they understand syphilis is a simple blood test and a treatable disease. If you are putting yourself at risk you need to be tested.”
