More Ocular Syphilis Cases in West Coast Gay Men Prompt Health Warnings, Says AHF
March 06 2015 - 8:27PM
Business Wire
Cases in Washington, San Francisco and possibly
L.A. Raise Alarm, Demand Action
Since December, as many as 15 cases of the
disease—which has led to blindness in several individuals—have been
reported in men who have sex with men in Washington State (6 cases,
2 blinded) and San Francisco (7 cases) as well as two suspected
cases found in Los Angeles County that are under investigation.
Since December 2014, as many as 15 cases of ocular syphilis—a
sexually transmitted disease which has led to blindness in several
of the individuals—have been reported in men who have sex with men
on the West Coast. Confirmed cases in Washington State, San
Francisco as well as two suspected cases found in Los Angeles that
are currently under investigation are raising alarm among public
health officials, community care providers and prevention
specialists.
In December and January, Washington State health officials
reported six people diagnosed with ocular syphilis—including two
who have gone blind—according to recent Washington Department of
Health public warnings and news articles. The Seattle Times and
Outbreak News Today reported in late January that since
mid-December 2014, four cases were reported in Seattle’s King
County, including three men who have sex with men (MSM). Three of
the cases were also identified as HIV-positive.
On February 20th, the San Francisco Department of Public Health
issued its own Health Advisory on ocular syphilis. The advisory
noted that, “Since December 2014, seven cases of ocular syphilis
have been reported in San Francisco. Five of the affected
individuals were men who have sex with men and six were
HIV-infected.” The San Francisco advisory also noted, “Several of
the cases have resulted in a significant and permanent decline in
visual acuity.”
Yesterday (March 5), the Los Angeles County Department of Public
Health issued an Advisory on ocular syphilis, noting that, “While
no cluster [of cases] has been identified in Los Angeles County,
two independent cases of possible ocular syphilis are currently
under investigation.”
“These new cases of ocular syphilis highlight the importance of
ongoing, regular check-ups for sexually-active individuals who feel
they may be at risk, particularly men who have sex with men,” said
AHF President Michael Weinstein. “We call on the Los Angeles
County Department of Public Health to step up and do more to alert
and educate medical providers about ocular syphilis. County
officials should also develop a strategic plan for reducing
syphilis cases, including putting out a monthly update to the media
as well as running the monthly update as an advertisement in LGBT
publications to educate the public.”
Ocular syphilis is typically a complication of primary or
secondary syphilis and some strains of Treponema pallidum, the
bacterium that causes syphilis, may be more likely to cause eye or
central-nervous-system disease.
A recent CDC STD surveillance report found that California’s
syphilis rate was second in the U.S. only to Georgia.
In November, AHF launched a targeted billboard campaign in Los
Angeles County, which the CDC also named in its most recent report
as having the highest number of primary and secondary syphilis
cases of any county in the nation. The billboards featured a
volcanic landscape emblazoned with the warning “Syphilis Explosion”
and promoted www.freeSTDcheck.org, where the public can find
locations to access free STD testing and affordable care for the
treatment of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis through AHF. AHF
recently released an online video to complement the billboards that
can be viewed at: http://youtu.be/2hwJaPAxUrU.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS
organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to
nearly 395,000 individuals in 36 countries worldwide in the US,
Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and
Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website:
www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter:
@aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare.
AHFGed Kenslea, Senior Director,
Communications+1-323-308-1833 work+1-323-791-5526
mobilegedk@aidshealth.orgorAHFChristopher Johnson, Associate
Director of Communications+1-323-960-4846
work+1-310-886-9913 mobilechristopher.johnson@aidshealth.org