A syphilis outbreak has been declared in north central Saskatchewan. (Teena Monteleone/paNOW)

By Teena Monteleone

Syphilis Cases On The Rise

“You may not know you have it”: MHO on syphilis outbreak

Dec 19, 2019 | 4:37 PM

A dramatic increase in the number of infectious syphilis cases has prompted the Saskatchewan Health Authority to declare an outbreak in north central Saskatchewan.

From August to November, 21 cases of syphilis were confirmed in Prince Albert, Big River, Shellbrook, Birch Hills, Christopher Lake and the surrounding communities. Usually, the area sees fewer than seven cases per year.

“We declared an outbreak so that we can pull our resources together and work with other health care professionals to address the reasons and investigate why it’s happening and identify what gaps, if any, are out there, what challenges and address those because we want people to be safe,” said Dr. Khami Chokani, the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s medical health officer for Prince Albert.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection spread from person to person through direct contact with a syphilis sore. It is a treatable disease but Chokani said part of the problem is many infected people have no symptoms. The sores syphilis causes are painless and disappear within seven to ten days regardless of treatment.

“Just because it disappears doesn’t mean you don’t have the infection,” he said. “It can remain asymptomatic, so you don’t know you have it and it can remain like that for decades and only reappear several decades later.”

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The outbreak in the Prince Albert area has mostly affected people between the ages of 25 and 65. In 90 per cent of the cases, those who contracted the disease did not use condoms.

Chokani said the way syphilis is spreading here is unusual.

“We are seeing it predominantly in the heterosexual population. In other parts of Canada, its more on men who have sex with men. It’s greater in the heterosexual population here and that puts our future generations at risk because women may not know their partners have it, they contract it and then pass it on to their unborn child.”

Chokani said on average, one case of syphilis will have at least four other contacts. That means with the 21 cases in north central Saskatchewan, there could be 84 other people who may have come in contact with the disease. Adding to that problem is the trouble health officials have when tracking down patients after they’ve been tested. In some cases, it’s taken four weeks to deliver results because the contact information left by the patient wasn’t valid.

“If you have any doubts [about whether you have syphilis], give your physician contact information you know you can be found at,” Chokani urged. “And if you get treated today, it doesn’t mean you’re good to go. The most important thing is abstinence – ideally for at least 21 days.”

In a press release issued to media Thursday, the Saskatchewan Health Authority said testing is free and confidential and the treatment, which is a single injection of a long acting penicillin, will be offered to patients immediately.

In the meantime, a multi-jurisdictional, multi-disciplinary team is providing a coordinated, integrated response in the affected communities. The team includes health professionals from Saskatchewan Health Authority, the Ministry of Health, Indigenous Services Canada – Saskatchewan region, and Northern Inter-Tribal Authority. The response focus is on testing, treatment and connecting people to health and support services to reduce their risks.

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Teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TeenaMonteleone