Chicago clinic
calls for more syphilis testing among gay men

Following reports that new diagnoses of primary and secondary syphilis among gay and bisexual men in Chicago increased 96% during the first half of 2005, officials with the Howard Brown Health Center are calling for all sexually active gay men in the city to be screened for the sexually transmitted disease, the Windy City Times reports. The Chicago health department reports that there were 135 new syphilis cases reported among gay and bisexual men in the first half of 2005, compared with 69 cases for the same period in 2004. Howard Brown, which serves the city's gay and lesbian community, has expanded its syphilis testing hours to accommodate larger numbers of gay men seeking testing. For more information about syphilis testing at Howard Brown call (773) 388-1600. (Advocate.com)