Syphilis Cases on the Rise in Milwaukee Among Young, Black Gay Men
January 29, 2015
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The number of syphilis cases among young black gay men in Milwaukee has spiked at the same time that HIV cases in this group also have started another alarming upward trend. And while the numbers have increased, federal dollars have done the opposite due to a cut in funding of HIV programs.
On Tuesday, a state official at a conference of health care providers in Milwaukee said that one “cluster” of syphilis cases in the city had as many as 125 individuals who are linked together through sexual and social networks.
Diagnoses of HIV and of primary, secondary and early latent syphilis in black males who have sex with men, ages 15 to 29, in the city of Milwaukee increased by 71% and 163% respectively between 2009 and 2014, according to the Wisconsin Division of Public Health.
Local agencies are studying the issues related to this cluster but they need help in fighting the spread of both diseases. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention needs to be leading the charge to reduce these startling numbers.