Winnipeg experiencing unparalleled spike in infectious syphilis rates

An unprecedented outbreak of infectious syphilis has health officials in Winnipeg scrambling to educate the people most at risk.

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said Wednesday it has already encountered 120 cases of the sexually transmitted infection through the first six months of2018 a total that exceedsthe number of annual casesin the past three years, it said.

"This year is the highest we've ever seen," said Dr. Pierre Plourde, medical officer of health with the WRHA."And if you go back to 2008, we had less than a dozen."

The infectious disease, which Plourde says has gradually been on the rise in Winnipeg since 2012,cancause anything from painful sores to brain damage if left untreated.

Mostcases this year have involved heterosexual men and women.

"Thatis a bit unusual," he said. "It's increasing at a phenomenal rate."

Plourde said the outbreak among heterosexual people is mostly located in the downtown and Point Douglas area.

It was unheard of, and now we've had a handful.- Dr. PierrePlourde

For the first time, the WRHAsays, newborns have beendiagnosed with syphilis. Thesevere, disabling andlife-threatening diseasewastransmitted by their mothers during pregnancy.

"We can't remember a case in Winnipeg, through all the history of monitoring and counting syphilis cases going back 50 years," Plourdesaid. "It was unheard of, and now we've had a handful."

The medical officer saidthesteep increase in syphilis rates has been seen in several different demographic groups.

In addition to the unexpectedrise among heterosexual persons, the WRHAsays 50-60 per cent of persons infected with syphilis self-report as being Indigenous. As well, Plourde said about 20-30 per cent of infected people are crystal meth users and about 20 per cent are homeless.

To help stem the outbreak, Plourde said the WRHAis looking at what he called "a more upstream approach." He said this involves looking at the causes of homelessness, addiction and the effects of racism and colonization.

"Unless those things change, these communicable diseases syphilis and others included are likely going to continue to spread no what kind of medical or public health approach we use."

Dr. PierrePlourdeexplains why syphilis is on the rise inManitoba(Warning: This video contains graphic images):

Unprecedented rise in syphilis cases in Manitoba

6 years ago

Duration 3:25

Dr. Pierre Plourde says there's a "combination of things" responsible for the sudden outbreak in the sexually transmitted illness.

In addition to sexual transmission, Plourde says drug users can also transmit syphilis through injection or by exchanging needles.

Historically, a key contributor to the number of syphilis infectionsin urban centres are men who have sex with men, but Plourdesays those numbers are actually decreasing due to educationefforts in the community.

"That's not what's fuelling the increase," he said.

Last month the WRHAcautioned health-care providers about thesyphilisoutbreakin an internal letter.

Plourdesays it wasn't shared publicly because the health authority was already communicatingthe problemwith vulnerablepopulationsand the organizations that support them.

"The general public, at large, is really not at risk," Plourde said.

At-risk populations

Still, the WRHA needs help to shareits messaging, particularly among Indigenous communities.

"Many of these people, we can't find them," he said. "We need our community partners and primarily Indigenous community partners to be working with us."

Cases have been reported throughout Winnipeg, as well as other regional health authorities in the province.

Anyone who experiencessyphilis symptoms such as painless genital or oral ulcers, maculopapularrash (a flat, red area on the skin that is covered with small confluent bumps) and lymphadenopathy(disease of the lymph nodesin which they are abnormal in size, number, or consistency) should be tested for the sexually transmitted illness, according to the WRHA.

The authority also encourages peoplewho engage in unprotected sex with casual or anonymous partners, pregnant personsor people who useintravenous drugs tobe checked for signs of syphilis.

In 2016, thePublic Health Agency of Canadasaid reported rates ofsyphilis, as well aschlamydia andgonorrhea,have been steadily rising nationwide since the late 1990s.