The Miami Herald, Inc.; Thursday, September 5, 1996
Karen Rafinski, Herald Staff Writer

But some public health officials fear they could lose the war. They fear their success could lead the chronically cash- strapped state Legislature to cut their budget, plucking the health workers responsible for the turnaround off the streets.

Last year the number of syphilis cases dropped to about 300 -- down from 8,400 in 1988 when the epidemic peaked. In Dade County, the number of syphilis cases dropped more than 97 percent over the same period. Gonorrhea rates also have declined.

"How low can you go?" said an exultant Jack Wroten, associate chief of the Department of Health's program to combat such diseases. "I think that's about it. Now our job is to keep it down."

Wroten joined other professionals at a three-day health- care conference that opened Thursday at the Eden Roc Hotel in Miami Beach. The conference, called Partnerships for a Healthier Community, was organized to train health workers in how to deal with AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis. The conference continues through Friday.

The steep drop in such diseases is good news, too, in the fight against the spread of HIV. Those with other sexually transmitted diseases are more likely to contract and spread HIV because lesions make it easier for the virus to pass from one person to another.

Wroten attributes much of the decline to the number of state and federal health workers put on the streets in the wake of the AIDS crisis. They helped recruit patients for early treatment as well as identify their sexual partners and bring them in as well. But the feds already have cut back on those workers -- from a high of 123 around the state to 36 today -- and state funding has been flat for years.

Now Wroten worries that if his division doesn't get enough funding to keep those workers on the streets, the problem could quickly return. It's happened before: Syphilis was nearly eradicated in 1953 after the introduction of penicillin. Deeming the problem solved, Congress cut the federal budget for the eradication program.

The numbers steadily rose again.

Published by: The Miami Herald, Inc.; a Knight Ridder publication. One Herald Plaza, Miami, FL 33132-1693

Copyright (c) 1997 Miami Herald. All rights reserved. Reprint Permission: The contents of each issue of The Miami Herald are protected under the federal copyright act. Reproduction of any portion of any issue will not be permitted without the express permission of The Miami Herald. Reprints: 305-376-3719 Staff photos: 305-376-3756. Internal or personal use: Copyright Clearance Center, 508-750-4283, ext. 888; fax 508-750-4744. The Miami Herald or Knight Ridder shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
960905
MH960912

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1996. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 1996. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .