An outbreak of syphilis in southern Idaho that began in 2003 probably has peaked, according to Tom Shanahan, a spokesman for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
Four babies with congenital syphilis were born in Idaho in 2003, and three were born in 2004. “We started seeing a rise in total cases of syphilis in 2002 and 2003; we are hopefully over the hump now,” Mr. Shanahan said. In addition to the congenital cases, 45 cases of syphilis were reported in the state in 2003, and 78 cases were reported in 2004. Although 21 cases of syphilis have been reported in 2005, no congenital cases have occurred.
“Drug use was a significant risk factor,” Mr. Shanahan said. About 70% of patients in Idaho's third district were methamphetamine or other drug users. Consequently, management strategies to control the outbreak include spreading the word about the link between drug use and syphilis, and educating the public through organizations that work with drug addicts.
The incidence of illness was highest in southwest Idaho, which reported 97 of the state's 144 cases of syphilis from 2003 to 2005. The ages of the 97 patients ranged from 15 to 81 years; 14 of the 97 patients were aged 18 years or younger.