Study: Syphilis on the Rise Among Minority Gay Men

Syphilis rates among young, minority gay and bisexual men are rising disproportionately, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Reuters reports on the increase in syphilis cases:

"Using data from 27 states, CDC researchers found that between 2005 and 2008, the syphilis rate among black gay and bisexual men rose at an 8-times faster clip compared with their white counterparts.

"Hispanic gay and bisexual men, meanwhile, had more than twice the increase of white men."

Health officials, Reuters reports, are concerned with the new data not only because of syphilis infections but also because the sexually transmitted disease makes individuals more susceptible to HIV infection.

Read the report here.