Details Released About the Syphilis Outbreak in Alaska

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services confirms that there is an ongoing syphilis outbreak in Alaska that is primarily affecting men. Back in February of last year the Department of Health alerted health care providers across the state of the outbreak of syphilis. The outbreak was primarily associated with men who have sex with men and it was centered in the Anchorage region. On Thursday the Alaska Section of Epidemiology issued a bulletin outlining the scope of the ongoing syphilis outbreak. Between January of 2011 and June of this year 47 cases of adult primary, secondary, and early latent syphilis were reported in Alaska. The median age of those infected was 35-years old and 36-percent of the cases were reported in the first 6-months of this year. 85-percent of the cases occurred in men and 80-percent of the infected men self-reported that they have sex with other men. 7 of the recent syphilis cases occurred in women and all of the infected women identified themselves as heterosexual. 18 of the recent syphilis cases occurred in Alaska Native persons and 16 cases occurred in whites. For the most part the outbreak seems to be isolated to the population centers in Alaska with 96-percent of the cases in the Anchorage, Mat-Su, Juneau and Fairbanks areas. The Department of Health attempted to interview all 47 infected adults in an attempt to identify additional individuals at risk for syphilis infection. All but 4 people agreed to be interviewed. As part of that process the Department of Health identified 152 sexual contacts. 131 of those contacts were notified but 21 could not be located. 35 people tested negative and did not require any treatment. Another 54 people tested negative but were treated because the contact occurred within 90-days of being tested. 13 people were found to be infected and they were treated. The Department of Health confirms that 19 people refused testing and treatment. The Epidemiology Bulletin released Thursday also includes a series of recommendations for health care providers related to the syphilis outbreak. The Department of Health is encouraging providers to encourage infected patients to participate in the Department’s confidential partner notification service and to annually screen sexual active men who confirm that they have sex with other men.