Southern Health-Santé Sud says they have seen a rise in the number of syphilis cases throughout the RHA.

On Monday, the Acting Chief Public Health Officer for Manitoba acknowledged that the sexually transmitted infection is spreading at an alarming rate throughout the province. In light of this, Dr. Michael Routledge, the Medical Officer of Health for Southern Health, says we have also seen an increase locally.

“The numbers we are having in our region are smaller, than in Winnipeg or in the northern parts of our province," indicates Routledge, "but we have seen an uptake here in Southern Health.”

Locally, the number of syphilis cases has grown from 4 in 2013 to over 13 this past year, including 1 case of congenital syphilis in a newborn baby. Meanwhile, province-wide statistics indicate that the 118 cases of syphilis in 2014 jumped to 368 in 2018.

When compared to the rest of Manitoba, Routledge admits that this information does not appear especially daunting, but nevertheless illustrates a problem.

“These numbers aren’t really large, but they aren’t insignificant either, and they are growing.”

Routledge notes that those with the infection will notice sores on or around their genitalia. He says the infection is easily curable with penicillin but can cause health complications if left untreated. 

According to Routledge, this recent wave of syphilis has an unusual tendency. “Syphilis used to be predominant in men,” he comments, “but one very specific thing happening now is that we are seeing it more in women.”

Routledge says Southern Health plans on following the provincial lead in upping their education, and treatments to prevent the continual spreading of the infection throughout the southeast. Still, Routledge says the best way of avoiding syphilis altogether is avoiding unprotected sex with several partners.