Syphilis cases
soar among Minnesota gay men

The Minnesota health department reports that syphilis cases among men who have sex with men rose 191% last year, from 34 cases in 2004 to 99 cases in 2005. About 37% of those newly infected with syphilis were coinfected with HIV, according to the health department. People with syphilis need to inform their sex partners so they can be screened and, if necessary, treated, said officials. The department has trained personnel who can discreetly make that contact. "Clearly, in order to reduce syphilis rates in Minnesota, it is critical that we actively get the sexual partners of infected clients in for testing and treatment," said department spokesman Kip Beardsley. (AP)