Syphilis spikes in Nunavut's Kivalliq region

Syphilis is on the rise once again in Nunavut.

A little more than halfway through 2016, the number of cases of the sexual transmitted infection in the territory has already surpassed the total number of cases for all of last year.

As of the beginning of August, there were 69 confirmed cases, according to territory's Department of Health. The vast majority were in the Kivalliq region.

As of 2015, the number of new cases had been trending down. There was a large concentration of cases of the infection in the Qikiqtaaluk region but those numbers have sharply declined. 

Then in May, the territory's Department of Health warned of a spike in cases and the numbers have since continued to grow – and could very well be higher.

"There's always undocumented cases, just people who haven't been tested yet," said Andrea Monahan, the Department of Health's sexual health program co-ordinator.

What makes it even more difficult is that some people do not show symptoms, including sores around their mouth and genitals or a rash on their hands and feet.

Monahan stresses the need for sexually active people to get tested at their local health centre and to practise safe sex.

"I think the rates are probably going up because there are people who are continuing to have unprotected sex," she said.

"There are people who aren't getting tested and so it's just really important for everyone to wear condoms and get tested if they're sexually active," she said.

Syphilis is diagnosed through a blood test and is easily treated with antibiotics. If left untreated, syphilis can cause many health problems and can eventually be fatal.