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Sask. syphilis outbreak continues as doctors struggle to find patients
Khan said he's worried by a newer trend driving syphilis infections: sex fuelled by crystal meth.
Zak Vescera
Updated: December 9, 2019
Six months since an outbreak was declared, syphilis continues to surge in Saskatchewan as doctors struggle to track down at-risk patients.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority and Indigenous Services Canada declared an outbreak in June after 42 cases of syphilis were diagnosed in the North Battleford-Lloydminster area in the first six months of the year.
Saskatchewan has a relatively low rate of syphilis compared to other Canadian provinces. However, as of October, the Ministry of Health counted 277 cases of syphilis so far in 2019 compared to just 85 in 2016 — an increase of more than 300 per cent.
Indigenous Services Canada also reported 83 new cases across the province’s 82 Indigenous communities, a staggering 2,000 per cent increase since 2017.
Northern medical health officer Dr. Mandiangu Nsungu said the biggest challenge has been tracking down people who have had sexual contact with existing patients.
Nsungu said health care workers have only been able to locate 65 per cent of contacts, of which 80 per cent have tested positive for syphilis so far.
“That tells us there are a good proportion of people who are infected who have not been detected yet,” Nsungu said...
Sask. syphilis outbreak continues as doctors struggle to find patients
Khan said he's worried by a newer trend driving syphilis infections: sex fuelled by crystal meth.
Zak Vescera
Updated: December 9, 2019
Six months since an outbreak was declared, syphilis continues to surge in Saskatchewan as doctors struggle to track down at-risk patients.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority and Indigenous Services Canada declared an outbreak in June after 42 cases of syphilis were diagnosed in the North Battleford-Lloydminster area in the first six months of the year.
Saskatchewan has a relatively low rate of syphilis compared to other Canadian provinces. However, as of October, the Ministry of Health counted 277 cases of syphilis so far in 2019 compared to just 85 in 2016 — an increase of more than 300 per cent.
Indigenous Services Canada also reported 83 new cases across the province’s 82 Indigenous communities, a staggering 2,000 per cent increase since 2017.
Northern medical health officer Dr. Mandiangu Nsungu said the biggest challenge has been tracking down people who have had sexual contact with existing patients.
Nsungu said health care workers have only been able to locate 65 per cent of contacts, of which 80 per cent have tested positive for syphilis so far.
“That tells us there are a good proportion of people who are infected who have not been detected yet,” Nsungu said...