Syphilis rates up
in New York City

According to New York City's annual Mayor's Management Report, the city's bill of health is mixed: Fewer New Yorkers are smoking, but the rate of syphilis infection is increasing. The number of syphilis cases rose from 599 in fiscal 2004 to 646 in 2005. Thomas Frieden, the health department's commissioner, said that increase mirrors a troubling trend worldwide. (AP)