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 continuing the efforts to reach those who may be at risk of adult syphilis detected in a geographical area in and around Evansville.Â
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 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 their exposed sexual or needle-sharing partners next week. Â
This community outreach plan will include expanded canvassing within Evansville the week of November 22nd. Information concerning the disease and how someone can get tested and possibly treated will be provided.
The Indiana Department of Health will have two mobile units in Evansville starting November 29th. These mobile units will be set up in different locations to provide screening/testing and treatment to anyone who might be at risk or are concerned they may have been exposed.
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.Â
