SYPHILIS OUTBREAK DETECTED IN SOUTHWESTERN INDIANA

SYPHILIS OUTBREAK DETECTED IN SOUTHWESTERN INDIANA

(Indiana Department of Health partners with Vanderburgh County Health Department to provide free testing and treatment in the community)

EVANSVILLE – The Vanderburgh County Health Department (VCHD), with support from the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), is responding to an outbreak of adult syphilis detected in a geographical area around Evansville. 

Increases in syphilis cases have been reported in Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick counties. To date, 21 cases have been identified in this outbreak, which includes adults with syphilis infections that have occurred in the past year — most being in highly infectious stages (primary and secondary syphilis). 

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause serious health problems and can spread to the brain and nervous system if left untreated. To help prevent the further spread of disease, the VCHD will offer syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as well as treatment for syphilis, at no cost for patients and they’re exposed sexually or needle-sharing partners next week.  

This community outreach plan will be conducted in areas of concern throughout the City of Evansville with the help of an IDOH mobile unit and team members.  The mobile units will help with transportation concerns and provide quick and easy testing and treatment options.  Updates to mobile unit locations will be provided on the VCHD Facebook page next week.

“The Vanderburgh County Health Department is asking the community to take active steps to educate themselves on syphilis and the serious complications that can occur when patients go untreated,” said Joe Gries, Administrator of the VCHD. The VCHD website includes information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the signs and symptoms of the disease and the extensive damage syphilis can do during pregnancy to the unborn baby, as the infection can be shared in utero. 

“Ensuring easy access to testing and treatment is a key component to stopping the community spread of serious infections like syphilis,” said Jeremy Turner, director of the Division of HIV/STD/Viral Hepatitis at IDOH. “We are committed to working with the Vanderburgh County Health Department to take services directly to the parts of the community that need them most.”

Common risk factors seen in the outbreak include homelessness, exchanging money or drugs for sex, using methamphetamine, injection drug use, using social media/internet to meet partners, and incarceration within the last year. Additionally, this outbreak has been linked to exposures to other infectious diseases, including HIV and viral hepatitis (hepatitis A and C). Anyone who has been exposed to syphilis or meets any of the risk factors listed above should contact a healthcare provider for screening and treatment options. 

Pregnant individuals should be screened for syphilis in the first trimester or at their first prenatal visit, between 28- and 32-weeks’ gestation and at delivery. Testing and treatment for pregnant individuals are available at the VCHD.