Health officials are working to raise awareness and promote STI testing as they continue to see an increase in syphilis cases.
SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — Spokane County health officials are working to raise awareness and promote testing after finding a 50% increase in syphilis cases, with one in three people going untreated.
“Stigma plays a role in folks feeling comfortable going to see the doctor,” said Kirsten Duncan, the lead disease intervention specialist at the Spokane Regional Health District’s STI/HIV prevention program.
County officials say syphilis has been on the rise since 2015. In 2022, the county reported 23 cases per 100,000 residents, and in 2023, confirmed cases increased by 50%.
“Syphilis is really hard to get a hold of because it moved very slowly,” said Duncan.
Duncan says the bacteria that cause the sexually transmitted infection are slow-moving. That means a patient may test negative initially, but later test positive.
“You may have entered a monogamous relationship, but you may have unintentionally brought syphilis with you. That is something we see quite a bit,” said Duncan.
Duncan says common symptoms of syphilis are sores on the body, fever, and a sore throat. And, if the infection goes untreated, it can cause loss of vision and hearing, paralysis in the legs, early dementia, and heart issues.
She says the infection can also be passed to babies in utero, known as congenital syphilis, if a pregnant mother has syphilis.
“So, it’s very, very serious,” said Duncan. “[In] 2024, we reported 10, which is the highest we have ever reported… but if mom gets treated during pregnancy, that also treats baby, which is great.”
Duncan reassures people that syphilis is easily treatable if identified. She says the important part is getting tested and addressing the infection before it gets serious.
“It is treatable, it is curable. Getting a positive is scary, but we have medication that will treat it,” said Duncan.