Syphilis cases in
Western Australia have reached a ten-year high, prompting an urgent roll-out of public health messaging
from WA Health.
Healthysexual – the
Department’s overarching sexual health campaign – now focuses on syphilis, in response to
major outbreaks occurring across the State.
The campaign urges
people to talk about, test for, and treat STIs (sexually transmissible infections).
Lisa Bastian, the
Department of Health’s Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Program Manager, said while syphilis
peaked in 2021, it remained high in 2022.
“Unless
diagnosed and treated, people can carry the infection for many years and spread the infection,” Ms
Bastian said.
“The
syphilis infection can damage your brain, heart and other parts of your body. Even if you have no sores
or other signs of syphilis, it can still be damaging your body.”
Syphilis, which
can be easily treated with antibiotics, can be particularly harmful to unborn babies.
Last year in WA,
there were 842 notifications of infectious syphilis; 42 of those cases were pregnant women.
Over the past 10
years in WA, there have been 12 notifications of syphilis occurring in pregnant women with more than
half of those in 2021. Tragically, three syphilis infections during pregnancy ended in
stillbirth.
“We
encourage pregnant women to get tested early and often through their pregnancy to keep themselves and
their unborn children safe,” Ms Bastian said.
Gonorrhoea was the
second most commonly notified STI in WA with notification and testing rates highest in the 15 to 24-year
age group.
The gonorrhoea
notification rate was higher in the Kimberley region than in other parts of the State and was 12-times
higher among Aboriginal people compared to non-Aboriginal people.
With HIV, syphilis
and gonorrhoea common overseas, the Healthysexual campaign also urges Western Australians to
practise safe sex when abroad.
Anyone who has had
unprotected sex while travelling overseas should visit their GP or sexual health clinic for an STI test
when they return home.
“It’s a simple test and the only way to be sure
you don’t have an STI. In most cases, a simple
urine, swab or blood sample is all that is needed,” Ms Bastian said.
STI testing can be
accessed from GPs in all parts of WA. Young people can access free testing by completing an online form
at healthysexual.com.au.
Visit healthysexual.com.au for more information.
Media contact:
WA Health Media
T: (08) 9222 4333
E: media@health.wa.gov.au