Syphilis outbreak leads to new clinic in Wilton Manors, Fla.

In response to a growing syphilis epidemic in South Florida centered primarily on gay and bisexual men, the Broward County Health Department is opening a new clinic for sexually transmitted diseases in Wilton Manors, Fla., the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel reports. The new clinic will be located at 1402 N.E. 26th St. and will be open on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Free STD testing and information services will be available. Treatment referrals will be offered to all clinic patients who test positive for STD infection. Syphilis infections are rising dramatically in the South Florida communities of Wilton Manors and Miami Beach, say state health officials. There were 13 new syphilis cases in 1998, but that number climbed to 133 last year. More than 100 new cases have been reported through August of this year. More than 90% of all new syphilis infections in the region are occurring among gay and bisexual men.