Syphilis cases still rising.

Syphilis cases are continuing to rise in gay neighborhoods across the country. Despite a report from the Los Angeles County health department in June 2000 stating that a syphilis outbreak that began last year had been contained, figures released August 21 report 85 new cases among gay men this year--a 19% increase over the same period last year. The numbers are no better in other areas. Miami Beach syphilis cases are up 44%; New York's have more than doubled.

Syphilis can be transmitted even while wearing a condom, noted Bob Bolan, medical director at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, so it's possible that not all those infected were having unsafe sex. "Do we see increases due to risk taking," he asked, "or are we finding cases because of more testing and better reporting?"

Kevin Stark of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's STD rapid response team concurs. "We're seeing huge increases across the country," he said, "and that must be partially due to increased awareness and testing."