Epidemic of syphilis endangers Europe
Pastor Dale Morgan
Epidemic of syphilis endangers Europe
*Aug 02, 2007
Robert Koch Institute
Doctors are raising the alarm in Europe which is seeing an appalling
rise in the incidence rates of syphilis, a dangerous sexually
transmitted disease. Homosexuals and bisexuals top the list of high-risk
groups.
Syphilis is a chronic sexually transmitted disease caused by the
bacterium Treponema pallidum, resulting in the formation of lesions
throughout the body. The disease causes damage to the skin, mucous
membrane, internal organs, major blood vessels, bones, muscles and the
nervous system. Syphilis may also result in meningitis and imbecility.
However, quite a few people are still completely unconcerned about the
consequences of this terrible STD. Judging by today’s rise in syphilis
cases, the attitude borders on recklessness.
The number of Germans infected with syphilis has nearly doubled in 2007,
compared with the number of cases reported in 2001. According to data
released by the Berlin-based Robert Koch Institute, the number of
reported syphilis cases totaled 1,697 in the first half of 2001, whereas
the number of reported syphilis cases rose to 3,147 in the first half of
2007.
In a report published by the Robert Koch Institute, scientists say that
the increased reported incidence of syphilis is mostly due to
carelessness and promiscuity, especially among men who have sex with
men. The majority of those diagnosed with syphilis live in Berlin, which
has 168 reported cases per 1,000,000 residents. Hamburg is a runner-up
with 75 cases per 1,000,000 residents.
Syphilis must be treated in a timely and proper fashion; otherwise it
will become a chronic problem, causing serous damage to the body of the
sufferer for years or even decades. These days treatment with
antibiotics is fully effective if administered in the early weeks of the
infection. However, one should bear in mind that the infection can
adjust itself to medications, thus proving to be more resistant to drugs
which yielded good results in the past.
Homosexuals remain the major high-risk group in terms of incidence rates
and spread of syphilis. An estimated 73 percent of syphilis cases are
currently diagnosed among men who have unsafe sex with men. Besides, the
risk of infection is 200-300 times higher among homosexuals than it is
among heterosexuals.
Syphilis mostly affects heterosexuals who are either prostitutes or drug
addicts. Patrons of sex clubs for swingers constitute another high-risk
group. Immigrants from Eastern Europe where syphilis incidence is
significantly higher pose a particular threat. The scientists emphasize
that bisexual men who infect women with syphilis are the prime carriers
of this dangerous disease, which is thus transmitted to others.