EDMONTON — Alberta urgently needs to deal with a growing outbreak of syphilis that “shows no signs of abating,” says the province’s chief medical officer of health.
In a report released Wednesday, Dr. Andre Corriveau said the potentially fatal, sexually transmitted disease is now spreading so quickly the province should considering requiring condom dispensers in bar and restaurant washrooms.
“The number of cases has dramatically increased in the province since 2000 and in the past few years has spread outside known high-risk groups,” his report said.
The incidence of syphilis has increased everywhere in Canada over the last decade, but has throughout remained consistently higher in Alberta.
In 2009, five Canadians in every 100,000 contracted the disease, while it was found in 7.4 Albertans. That’s 267 cases, 50 per cent higher than the Canadian average.
Once a disease that affected mostly men having sex with other men in the main cities of Calgary and Edmonton, the nature of the outbreak has also shifted.
“The outbreak is now largely among those identifying their sexual orientation as heterosexual,” the report says. “Fort McMurray and Lethbridge have emerged as new hot spots with rates that exceed those of Edmonton and Calgary.”
The outbreak is also threatening infants born to mothers with the disease.
There were seven Alberta babies born with syphilis in 2009 with another six still under investigation. The rest of Canada saw only one infant born with the disease that year.
Aboriginal Albertans are being hit the hardest, with infection rates 18.6 times higher among aboriginal women and 2.8 times higher among aboriginal men.
More than a quarter of the women diagnosed with syphilis describe themselves as prostitutes. Nearly one in five of the men who contract the disease say they have had sex with prostitutes.
Corriveau’s report says decreasing the number of sexual partners and encouraging condom use is key to halthing the spread of syphilis.
It also says linking liquor licences to the availability of condoms in bar and restaurant bathrooms should be considered. It also recommends installing condom dispensers at inner-city agencies or massage parlours.