Treatment and prevention the focus to combat syphilis outbreak
The syphilis outbreak declared in the province yesterday by Alberta Health shows Grande Prairie and the rest of the North Zone as a big part of that uptick.
208 cases of infectious syphilis were reported in our zone in 2018, more than tripling the just over 60 cases reported the year prior. However, Senior Medical Officer for Health with AHS Laura McDougall says that this spread is not unique to our region or province.
“Alberta is by no means the only jurisdiction that is seeing an outbreak like this,” said McDougall. “Similar rates are being experienced in other provinces, especially in Western Canada. Also, across Europe and notably Australia.”
The North Zone also saw a slight increase in cases of gonorrhea but did see a drop in the reports of HIV. Reports of chlamydia stayed level with 2017 rates.