Sexually transmitted diseases on the rise in South Australia, new data shows

In 2017 there were zero cases of infectious syphilis. Now there’s 143. Doctors have been put on alert over a worrying rise in sexually transmitted diseases in South Australia.

Doctors are being urged to be on high alert for cases of sexually transmitted diseases after a rise in reports of gonorrhoea and syphilis.

While Covid cases are trending down, with 786 new cases reported on Monday, other infectious diseases have increased in South Australia.

SA Health data shows a surge in gonorrhoea, which has risen from 908 cases this time last year to 1038 this year.

Sexually transmitted syphilis rose by two cases to 143 compared to the same time last year – but there were zero cases recorded in 2017.

Cases of campylobacter (a gastric disorder) have risen from 1640 this time last year to 1732, while rotavirus cases have risen from 145 to 307 over the same.

Mosquitoes are responsible for the spread of Ross River fever.

The bacteria which causes syphilis.

Ross River fever cases, caused by a viral infection transmitted through mosquito bites, have more than doubled from 73 this time last year to 189 – and if the wet winter continues into spring there will be plenty of pools for mosquitoes to breed.

There have been 10,851 influenza cases so far this year, compared with just 19 this time last year.

SA Health says rates of infectious syphilis in South Australia continue to rise “across multiple populations”, despite a reduction in testing during the Covid pandemic.

If left untreated, syphilis can cause severe damage to the eyes, brain and nerves and it can be passed on to the next generation.

SA Health said a special working group was monitoring the syphilis outbreak and developing strategies to contain cases in areas with high infection rates.

“Clinicians are reminded to maintain a high clinical suspicion for syphilis in all population groups, and to offer syphilis and HIV serology when testing for any other sexually transmissible infection, including in routine asymptomatic check-ups for all sexually active people and during pregnancy,” SA Health said in a statement.

There are about 7000 active cases of Covid-19 in the state, according to official data.