Argentina health officials are reporting an increase in syphilis cases in a number of provinces and issued an alert concerning using proper protection during sex, according to a Dia a Dia report (computer translated).
In the country’s most populous province, Buenos Aires, syphilis cases increased by 30 percent from 2015 to 2016, while increases were also reported in Córdoba (19%), Santa Fe (15 %), Mendoza 55%, Chubut 58% and La Pampa 80%.
However, officials say some provinces reported decreases like Entre Ríos and Missions.
Why the increases? Health officials point to a decrease in condom use particularly in young adults, men who have sex with other men (MSM) and the trans community. “There is a false sense of security in not using condoms because in recent years the fight against sexually transmitted diseases has improved,” said the director of the Ministry of Health’s Aids and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Sergio Maulen.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium, Treponema pallidum. The most common way to get syphilis is by having sexual contact (oral, genital or anal) with an infected person. The secondary lesions are also infective and contact with them could transmit the bacteria. It can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her baby (congenital transmission).
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