Syphilis warning as cases spike across Geelong, Surf Coast

Geelong health authorities are concerned about climbing rates of syphilis and gonorrhoea across the region. Find out how to get tested.

Doctors are concerned about rising rates of STIs.

Geelong health authorities are concerned about climbing rates of syphilis and gonorrhoea across the region.

Barwon Health infectious diseases specialist Dr Sarah Huffam warned syphilis was particularly concerning for women of child-bearing age and could lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes including congenital syphilis.

She said Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) rates had dropped during the Covid-19 pandemic, but were steadily returning to pre-pandemic levels.

New Barwon South West data region reveals 224 cases of gonorrhoea were recorded in 2022, at a rate of 48.3 per 100,000.

In 2019, 55.7 cases per 100,000 population recorded.

Last year, 88 cases of syphilis were recorded at a rate of 19.0 per 100,000 population, higher than the 12.7 cases per 100,000 population recorded in 2019.

In 2021 there were 86,916 diagnoses of chlamydia, 26,577 of gonorrhoea and 5,570 of infectious syphilis across Australia, according to data from the UNSW Kirby Institute

Dr Huffam urged residents to seek medical attention if they suspected they had an STI.

“It is important to protect yourself and others from STIs through the consistent use of condoms, seeking medical attention early if there are any genital symptoms, and keeping up regular testing for asymptomatic STIs for people who are high risk,” Dr Hufffam said.

“If an STI is diagnosed, it is vital to inform sexual contacts so they can be tested and treated

quickly.”

As of this week, Anglesea Medical will provide testing and management of STIs under a new partnership with the Victorian Sexual Health Network.

The partnership, led by the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, aims to increase the availability of sexual health services across the region.

Anglesea Medical general practitioner Lucy Dobson said medical practitioners would provide asymptomatic testing, support people requiring treatment and aid contact tracing.

“Anglesea Medical aims to provide an inclusive and confidential environment where we can test, detect and treat STIs for people of the Surf Coast and surrounding shires,” Dr Dobson said.

“Detection and treatment of STIs is not just helping the individual but multiple people. We are aiming to provide asymptomatic testing, support people requiring treatment and aid contact tracing.”

To find out more about STI testing visit staystifree.org.au.

Originally published as Syphilis warning as cases spike across Geelong, Surf Coast