Mecklenburg County Sees Surge of Syphilis Cases

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Mecklenburg Sees Surge of Syphilis Cases

Special Report - July 31, 2007
The number of syphilis cases in Mecklenburg County increased 74 percent in 2005, according to the Mecklenburg County Health Department. The rapid spread of the disease reflects a national trend. Syphilis is a bacterial infection often transmitted sexually through direct contract with an infected person. The disease is difficult to diagnose, and left untreated can cause significant organ damage. Another alarming trend is the increasing amount of syphilis cases among men both nationally and locally. In 2004, 72 percent of Mecklenburg County’s syphilis cases occurred among males. The Mecklenburg County Health Department joins the CDC in attributing the spread of the disease in part on risky sexual behavior among men having sex with men (MSM).

Dr. Ronald O. Valdiserri, acting director of CDC’s HIV, STD and TB prevention programs, described the trend in a 2005 press release. "It's very clear that for the last four years, when we've seen an increase, it's primarily been in men and predominantly in men who have sex with men," said Valdiserri, "We know that's being fueled by increases in high-risk sexual behavior. We have good data to substantiate that."

John Glorioso, director of Mecklenburg County’s syphilis outreach program, told the Charlotte Observer that the majority of the county’s new infections have been among the homosexual and bisexual male community. He blamed sexual solicitations on Internet chat rooms and other risky sexual behavior for the rapid spread among MSM. Mecklenburg County has already seen 69 new cases of syphilis in 2007, and has launched Project M.U.S.E. (Mecklenburg Unites, Syphilis Ends) to combat the spread of the disease.