Syphilis Eradication: So Near, So Elusive

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1998. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Syphilis Eradication: So Near, So Elusive

USA Today (12/22/98) P. 6D
Brainard, Jeffrey

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Jeffrey Koplan recently announced that the agency would try and eliminate syphilis infection in the United States. With syphilis rates at extremely low-levels, experts believe that now is the time to try and eradicate the disease. Scientists are pressing for the development of a vaccine and improvements in public health programs to facilitate the process. According to the CDC's Michael St. Louis and Judith Wasserheit, syphilis incubates slowly compared to other venereal diseases, allowing healthcare workers a better chance to track and treat infected individuals before they become infectious. The bacteria involved also has a low transmission rate and do not show signs of antibiotic resistance. A vaccine may offer the best method to eliminating the disease; however, St. Louis and Wasserheit believe syphilis could be eliminated in the United States within five years, even without a vaccine, if changes were made to the public health system. Surveillance and screening would have to be increased among high-risk populations who do not regularly receive testing or medical treatment. Many scientists note that the eradication of syphilis would also help reduce the spread of HIV because syphilis causes open sores that facilitate the transmission of the virus.

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