After a decade long decline, the rate of syphilis has climbed for the second straight year. The Centers for Disease Control reports the rate of syphilis climbed 9% last year.
The city of Columbus is seeing some of the steepest increases in the nation.
To give you an idea of where syphilis was - in the late 1990's there was one reported case among gay men in Columbus, now there are about 65 diagnosed cases among gay men here.
The total number of cases in Columbus is not huge - 125 this year- but the rise is dramatic. And while the number of cases statewide is declining, syphilis in Columbus continues to climb.
Health officials blame success in treating H.I.V. for the rise in syphilis. They theorize, because people are living longer and better with H.I.V., safe sex practices are slipping.
Officals at the Centers for Disease Control say Columbus has the 13th highest rate of syphilis in the country. San Fransisco has the highest.
Dr Jeff Klausner, director of San Fransico's S.T.D. prevention efforts, says the rise in syphilis in his city and others is frustrating, because it was nearly wiped out in the last decade.
