Syphilis is on the Rise
Be careful guys, syphilis is on the rise.
In fact, numbers are coming back for the STI, thanks to Public Health England or PHE, and it looks like the numbers are higher than ever before since back in 1949.
In addition, the numbers seem to keep getting larger and larger each year. Just between the years of 2015 and 2016, the number of syphilis diagnoses increased by 12%. The numbers went from 5,281 to 5,920 respectively.
Then, if we take into account the fact that the number was at 3,001 in 2012, you’ll see that we really have something to worry about here.
And yes, we have something to worry about. If you are a man who has sex with other men, you are at a heightened risk because we are the ones who are most likely to transmit the disease.
Dr Michael Brady, the medical director for the sexual health charity called Terrence Higgins Trust, said:
“Today’s figures show unacceptably high rates of STIs.”
More: Mississippi Took Away Its Free HIV And STD Testing
“We’re facing huge challenges, such as the continued rise of syphilis and ongoing concerns around drug-resistant gonorrhoea, and we urgently need to address the nation’s poor sexual health and rates of STIs in those most at risk.
“In this climate of cuts to local authorities’ public health budgets, this is particularly concerning.
“Now is not the time to be scaling back sexual health services.
“Cuts to chlamydia testing, for example, are having a visible impact, with today’s figures showing that there has been a 9% decrease in the number of chlamydia tests taken.
“It is also now essential that Public Health England, the Department of Health and local authorities ensure improved access to effective STI and HIV testing, treatment and prevention services. Otherwise, we cannot expect to address the ongoing sexual health crisis.”
Be careful out there guys.
h/t: PinkNews
