Incident team created to tackle Territory syphilis outbreak

The number of syphilis cases in the Territory has been labelled a ‘real public health crisis’ by AMA and NT Health has commissioned a syphilis Incident Management Team.

Increased syphilis testing is being implemented in the NT to tackle an outbreak. Picture: supplied

Territorians are being urged to get tested for STIs as syphilis cases have spiked dramatically in the Northern Territory.

So much so, that an Incident Management Team (IMT) has been commissioned by NT Health acting chief health officer Dr Paul Burgess in an attempt to drive numbers down.

Since 2013, syphilis, which is a sexually transmissible infection, has been on the rise in the Territory.

Over the past five years, cases have doubled compared to what would be expected in that time and in this year alone there have been 183 cases identified.

The Australian Medical Association have branded the outbreak a “real public health crisis” and has welcomed the commissioning of the IMT.

Australian Medical Association NT President Dr John Zorbas. Photo: ABC Darwin

Australian Medical Association NT president, Dr John Zorbas, said: “Untreated syphilis is a devastating disease.

“It is an easy disease to treat early on and very, very hard to treat as you get further down the line.

“So the fact that an IMT has been struck is welcomed by the AMA.”

While numbers are certainly high, Dr Burgess said he would not label the situation as a “crisis” and that actually high numbers in recent months is positive as testing has been increased.

“Sometimes a large increase in case numbers is a good thing,” he explained.

Acting chief health officer, Dr Paul Burgess, from NT Health comments on the creation of an Incident Management Team to tackle the syphilis outbreak in the NT. Image: Irene Dowdy/ NT Health

“That means we’re doing more testing, we’re finding these cases and we’re actually getting those cases treated.

“Very reassuringly, the majority of those cases, around per cent, are being treated very, very rapidly.

“Thereby we’re preventing the spread.”

‘We need the public to help us’

Dr Burgess encouraged people to make use of the public testing in primary health care centres and also Clinic 34 in Alice Springs and Darwin.

Especially those aged between 15 and 34 years old who generally tend to be more sexually active.

Syphilis can be cured with penicillin early on, but if left untreated it can lead to a variety of neurological problems including hearing loss and visual disturbances. Picture: supplied.

He said it involves a simple blood test and syphilis can be treated early on with an injection of penicillin.

Anyone who is worried they might have infection or is showing any symptoms, is encouraged to get a check-up.

“We’re very effective at finding and treating people once we know the test is positive,” Dr Burgess added.

“But the key step that we need the public to help us with is to come forward for a free and confidential test.”

The Health Minister Steve Edgington was contacted for comment on the situation and a statement was provided from a CLP Government spokesman.

“In February, NT Health’s chief health officer set up a syphilis Incident Management Team (IMT) to help tackle the rise in the number of people with infectious syphilis in the Northern Territory,” they said.

“Out of the 183 cases of syphilis reported from 1 January 2025 to 22 June 2025 there has been a 93 per cent successful treatment rate.”

Historic first for the NT: First case of XDR gonorrhoea detected

In the NT Health Surveillance Report detailing the rise in numbers, it was stated a case of XDR gonorrhoea – a gonococcal infection which is resistant to multiple antibiotics – was detected in the NT in May for the first time.

For patients being screened for an STI, NT health professionals have been advised to take travel history into consideration as XDR gonorrhoea cases are increasing globally – particularly in South-East Asia.

It follows as gonococcal infections have increased annually in the Territory with almost 700 notifications to date.

Originally published as Incident team created to tackle Territory syphilis outbreak