Syphilis rates
rise among Chicago’s gay men

Newly diagnosed cases of primary and secondary syphilis are rising among gay and bisexual men in the Chicago area, reports the Windy City Times. The city's health department reports that there were 412 cases of syphilis reported in the city in 2005, a 39% increase over 2004's figure. Almost three quarters of the new cases were among gay and bisexual men, an increase of more than 50% from 2004's level. More than half of the gay and bisexual men diagnosed with syphilis in 2005 were also coinfected with HIV.

William Wong, medical director of the city health department's STD/HIV prevention and care program, told the Times that he recommends sexually active gay men be checked for syphilis infection every six months and sexually active HIV-positive gay men be screened for the STD every three months. (The Advocate)