Syphilis rates
rising among gay men in Chicago

The number of newly reported syphilis cases in Chicago has doubled during the past 12 months, with more than 70% of the new cases reported among gay and bisexual men, the Windy City Times reports. Syphilis cases among gay Latino men in the city have risen 200% during the past year, according to city health officials. Syphilis cases dropped in the city in 2003 after the Syphilis Elimination Task Force launched a citywide campaign urging sexually active adults to practice safer sex and to be screened for the sexually transmitted disease. SETF members have been meeting this fall to discuss ways to combat the renewed rise in syphilis infections. Some health officials worry that rising syphilis rates can be a precursor to rising HIV infection levels, since the STD is linked with unprotected sex and because the sores associated with syphilis can more than triple the chance for HIV transmission. (Advocate.com)