Eastern Health concerned by 10-year high of syphilis, gonorrhea

Top medical officials in the province are concerned about rising rates of sexually-transmitted infections.   

We have to find a way to get out there on the social media with the crowd that's getting the hook-ups to get the message out through there — and that can be a challenge.- Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Allison

According to the latest figures from the Department of Health and Community Services, the numbers show rates of infection from chlamydia and Hepatitis C, while high, are holding steady.

​However, new cases of syphilis and gonorrhea have both hit 10-year highs.  

So far this year, there have been 20 new cases of syphilis, up from a previous 10-year high of 14. 

There have been 51 new cases of gonorrhea — almost double the previous 10-year high of 26.

Eastern Health has noticed the rise in infections, and is paying close attention to how the infections are spread.

Chief Medical Officer of Health David Allison said most new infections are occurring among men who have sex with other men, and who are between the ages of 30 and 49.  

 Allison told CBC News it's a group that's difficult to reach with warnings about safe sex.

"Several large clusters of cases ... people who know each other. When we do the contact tracing, we have about five or six different clusters of cases that come together."

But in the age of social media, with apps like Tinder and Grindr, which are designed to help people hook up — Allison isn't sure the message is getting through.

"We know that a lot of the connections are being made are through social media. We have to find a way to get out there on the social media with the crowd that's getting the hook-ups to get the message out through there — and that can be a challenge," he said.