Syphilis cases on the rise in U.S. and Maine

U.S. CDC has launched a new campaign - Syphilis Strikes Back - to raise awareness about recent increases in the number and rate of syphilis cases. In 2015, the United States experienced the highest number and rate of reported primary and secondary syphilis cases in more than 20 years.

Forty-nine cases of primary, secondary, and early latent syphilis were reported to Maine CDC in 2015, which represents a significant increase over the five-year median of 19 cases.  

In 2015, the statewide syphilis rate was 3.7 per 100,000. Rates were highest in Somerset and Cumberland counties, with rates of 11.7 per 100,000 and 9 per 100,000 respectively.

Of the reported cases, 61 percent were diagnosed in southern Maine (26 cases in Cumberland County, four cases in York County) and 22 percent of cases were diagnosed in central Maine (Kennebec and Somerset counties).

Most of the cases (76 percent) were among 25 – 54-year-olds. Since 2011, the proportion of syphilis cases in people age 40 and older has been increasing steadily from 30 percent in 2011 to 47 percent in 2015.

The majority of syphilis cases identified as male (41 cases or 82 percent). The number of early syphilis cases among females rose from one reported case in 2011 to nine reported cases in 2015. 

The predominant mode of transmission associated with reported syphilis cases was male-to-male sexual contact (32 cases or 65 percent).

There were 48 cases of syphilis reported to Maine CDC in 2016, but analyses of the 2016 data are not yet complete.

For more information about syphilis, visit https://www.cdc.gov/std/sam/2017syphilis.htm

April is National STD Awareness Month

Maine CDC is joining the nation in recognizing April as Sexually Transmitted Disease Awareness Month. This year’s theme is Know the Facts and GYT: Get Yourself Tested.

STDs occur mostly among younger populations, but can affect anyone. According to US CDC, many people make false assumptions about how STD tests are performed, who should get tested, and the treatment of STDs. This may prevent people from seeking the testing and treatment they need.

In the U.S., there are approximately 20 million STDs diagnosed annually, with nearly half occurring in teenagers and young adults. For example, in 2014, Maine had 3,538 cases of Chlamydia reported, with 68 percent of the cases occurring in 15 to 24 year-olds. Gonorrhea accounted for 243 cases with 53 percent of the cases being diagnosed in 20 to 29 year-olds.

All STDs are preventable and can be treated. Most have no physical signs or symptoms, so the only way to know with certainty is to be tested. Left untreated, some STDs can have significant long-term health consequences, like being unable to have children or long-term pelvic pain for example.

For more information about where to get testing, treatment, or disease reporting in Maine, please visit http://www.mainepublichealth.gov/std 

HIV/STD Updates

 The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released updated HIV treatment recommendations: http://go.usa.gov/yTI

The updated recommendations have changed significantly regarding when to initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART).  Antiretroviral treatment is now recommended for all HIV infected individuals.  The strength of these recommendations depends on an individual’s CD4 count, but if an individual is at risk of transmitting HIV to HIV-negative sexual partner(s) the strength of the recommendations increases. 

Several HIV/STD surveillance documents have recently been added to Maine CDC’s website:

• March Monthly Update for HIV and STDs: http://go.usa.gov/yTR
• 2010 Annual HIV/STD Surveillance Report: http://go.usa.gov/yTQ
• A detailed report on HIV for 2011: http://go.usa.gov/yTE
• A detailed report on chlamydia and gonorrhea for 2011: http://go.usa.gov/yTV

US CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden will host a live Twitter chat on STDs and young people at 1 p.m. April 23. Follow the conversation by using hashtag #CDCChat. Follow Dr. Frieden on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/DrFriedenCDC

Public Health Update 10/13/11

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

US CDC has a special Q&A feature about breast cancer and mammograms available at http://www.cdc.gov/Features/BreastCancerAwareness/

The Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program (MBCHP) is a comprehensive breast and cervical cancer early detection program housed within Maine CDC’s Division of Chronic Disease. Early detection continues to be the best way to combat breast and cervical cancer. The program’s mission is to help low-income, uninsured and underinsured women gain access to breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to support and enhance breast and cervical cancer control activities statewide.

For more information: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/bohdcfh/bcp/

World Arthritis Day

Physical activity is beneficial for the management of arthritis, yet data show that 44% of people with arthritis are physically inactive. In recognition of World Arthritis Day on Oct. 12, adults with arthritis are encouraged to engage in regular physical activity to better manage their arthritis each and every day.

For more information about arthritis and physical activity, see this US CDC feature: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Arthritis/

For more information about World Arthritis Day, see this MMWR: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6039a7.htm

Drinking and driving

Alcohol-impaired driving crashes account for nearly 11,000 crash fatalities, or about one third of all crash fatalities in the United States. US CDC’s monthly Vital Signs feature has important information about drinking and driving: http://www.cdc.gov/VitalSigns/DrinkingandDriving/

For more information, see this MMWR: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6039a4.htm

HIV/STD update

The monthly HIV/STD update for September has been posted at http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/ddc/hiv-std/data/documents/Data-Update-09-2011.pdf

US CDC has made popular STD fact sheets available for smart phones and other mobile devices: http://m.cdc.gov/menu.aspx?menuId=64&language=en

Influenza update

Maine CDC has already distributed almost 174,000 doses of state-supplied influenza vaccine to registered providers for the 2011-2012 season.

Almost 240 clinics at 70 school districts have already been registered for this season. A list of schools with registered school-located vaccine clinics is available at http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/maineflu/flu-clinics.shtml

If you still need your flu shot, a searchable county listing of flu clinics is available at http://www.211maine.org/flu-clinics/ or you can search by zipcode at http://www.flu.gov/

Infectious disease conference

Maine CDC’s Division of Infectious Disease will hold its annual conference from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Augusta Civic Center. Issues presented will include challenges in controlling infectious diseases, information on responding to new disease threats, and clinical updates and approaches. Cost: $35 before Oct. 24 and $50 after. Space is limited. For more information and to register: http://adcarecdc.neias.org/idhome/

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