Outreach Update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Theresa Lyczko, 274-6714 or Karen Bishop at 274-6604

TESTING AND TREATMENT – KEY MESSAGES FROM SYPHILIS WORK GROUP

 
April 10, 2008 – In light of the recent increase of syphilis cases in Tompkins County, area colleges and health care providers met to discuss how to maximize outreach and education efforts regarding syphilis prevention and treatment.

In 2007 there were 6 cases of syphilis in Tompkins County; in the first 3 months of 2008 3 cases were reported. Some of those cases were co-infected with HIV compounding the concern of health officials. In the past 10 years there was an average of one case of syphilis a year in the County.

The rate of syphilis in the United States has been on the rise since 2001. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that between 2005 and 2006 the rate of primary and secondary syphilis – the most infectious stages of the disease increased 13.8%, from 2.9 to 3.3 cases per 100,000 population.

The Tompkins County Health Department’s mission is to protect the health of the public. It routinely tracks over 60 communicable diseases in the County including syphilis. It works with local health care providers to identify cases and prevent further transmission of disease.

Representatives from Gannett Health Center at Cornell University, Hammond Health Center at Ithaca College, Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3), Planned Parenthood, New York State Department of Health and the Tompkins County Health Department met to discuss strategies to inform the community about the causes, signs, and symptoms of the disease and testing sites available in the County.

As a result of that meeting, several actions were promptly initiated: local providers were informed of the increased incidence; links to disease and treatment information were created; local sites for testing were enhanced; Ithaca College, TC3 and Cornell alerted their communities and urged anyone at risk to get tested immediately. STD information was placed on the health department’s website: www.tompkins-co.org/health . The group planned to meet within the month and noted that April was STD (sexually transmitted disease) Awareness month. This observance and the recent incidence of syphilis cases provide an opportunity to stress to the community that syphilis and STDs are everyone’s concern.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that is caused by bacterium. It is passed from person to person through direct contact with a syphilis sore. Sores occur mainly on the external genitals, vagina, anus, or in the rectum. Sores also can occur on the lips or mouth. Transmission of the organism occurs during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

Syphilis is treatable and curable with antibiotic medication. If someone has had or believes that their partner has had anonymous sexual activity including with someone met online, they may have been exposed and should get tested for STDs including syphilis and HIV as soon as possible.

Available tests in Tompkins County include:

• Gannett Health Services - 255-5155
  For members of the Cornell Community (students, staff, faculty).
  Free and confidential syphilis and HIV testing available until May 15.
• Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes - 273-1513
  For all Tompkins County residents.
  Free and confidential syphilis, HIV and other STD testing available.
• FREE ANONYMOUS HIV TESTING ONLY - 274-6616
  For everyone.
  Tompkins County Health Department.
  Results available in 20 minutes.
• HAMMOND HEALTH CENTER - 274-3177
  For Ithaca College students only.
  Syphilis, HIV and other STD testing available for a fee.
• TC3 HEALTH CENTER - 844-8222 x 4487
  No on-site STD testing available. STD education and referrals only.

 
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