Syphilis explosion in Melbourne as the number of cases spike to 1400 in one year - Daily Mail

Syphilis explosion in Melbourne as the number of cases soar in past year - here's the list of suburbs most at risk

• The sexually transmitted infection has appeared in the city's south east and west
• 1400 cases of syphilis were recorded in Victoria in 2020, and 560 so far this year
• Brimbank, in the north west, was the city's hotspot with 56 cases last year

By Alana Mazzoni For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 01:36 BST, 18 May 2021 | Updated: 02:47 BST, 18 May 2021

A major outbreak of the sexually transmitted disease syphilis is rapidly spreading through Melbourne.

Statistics compiled by the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre revealed there is a growing concentration of the infection in the city's outer suburbs.

More than 1400 cases of syphilis were recorded in Victoria in 2020, and already 560 so far this year.

Melbourne's syphilis hotspot was Brimbank in the western suburbs, which recorded 56 cases last year, followed by the western satellite suburb of Melton with 46 infections and Casey in the outer southeast with 42 detected. 

Syphilis is transmitted through close skin-to-skin contact and is highly contagious when the sore or rash is present

Syphilis is transmitted through close skin-to-skin contact and is highly contagious when the sore or rash is present.

The health centre found there had been a 220 per cent spike in syphilis cases among females in recent years. 

The startling statistics come despite Melburnians spending nearly half of 2020 in lockdown, with a reduction of social contact.

Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity professor of microbiology Deborah Williamson said experts are now using tracing measures similar to those used to control Covid to identify syphilis outbreaks. 

'It's an ancient disease, but the way we have diagnosed and treated it hasn't really changed for many, many years,' Professor Williamson told The Age.

'We think applying these cutting-edge technologies that we have used for coronavirus will be quite transformative for this disease, which has long plagued humankind.' 

The health centre found there had been a 220 per cent spike in syphilis cases among females in recent years 

'It may be that there are networks where there is a particularly high incidence of syphilis, we've seen that before with gonorrhea, where there's spillover into other populations.' 

Victoria Health says syphilis is transmitted through close skin-to-skin contact and is highly contagious when the syphilis sore or rash is present.

Syphilis can be treated with long-acting penicillin, and anyone with the infection should avoid sexual contact until treatment is completed.

What is Syphilis? 

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause serious health problems if it is not treated. 

People can get syphilis by direct contact with a syphilis sore during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. 

You can find sores on or around the penis, vagina, or anus, or in the rectum, on the lips, or in the mouth. Syphilis can spread from an infected mother to her unborn baby.

Without treatment, syphilis can lead to damage throughout your body. Syphilis also increases the risk of HIV infection and, for women, can cause problems during pregnancy. 

Treatment can help prevent future damage but can't repair or reverse damage that's already occurred.

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2021-05-18 00:36:59Z
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