• Skip to main content
  • Skip to navigation
  • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
Government of Western Australia Crest
Government of Western Australia
Government of Western Australia Crest

Additional Menu

  • Accessibility
  • Contact us
Go to WA Government search
  • About us
    • Contact us
      • Compliments, complaints and suggestions
    • Provide Feedback
    • WA Health Staff Booster Vax
    • Health Service Board
    • Executive
    • Vision, Mission and Values
    • Strategic Planning
    • Work with us
      • Vacancies
      • Career opportunities
      • Pay and benefits
      • How to join us
      • Mental Health Transition to Practice Program
      • Pathways to working with us
      • Diversity and inclusion
      • Volunteering
    • Annual Reports
    • Freedom of Information
    • Governance
  • Hospitals and Services
    • Hospitals
      • Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
      • Osborne Park Hospital
      • King Edward Memorial Hospital
      • Graylands Hospital
      • Joondalup Health Campus
    • Mental Health
      • Community Adult Mental Health
      • Inpatient Adult Mental Health
      • Mental Health Specialties
    • Public Health
      • Aboriginal Health
      • DonateLife
      • Health Promotion
      • Humanitarian Entrant Health Service
      • Infection Prevention and Control
      • Metropolitan Communicable Disease Control
      • State Head Injury Unit
      • WA Tuberculosis Control Program
    • Dental Health Services
    • Services
      • Elective surgery
      • Emergency Departments
      • Maternity Services
      • WA Cancer and Palliative Care Network Clinical Implementation Unit
      • Video Consultation
    • Voluntary Assisted Dying
  • Patient Care
    • Safety and Quality
      • Patient safety
      • Quality of care
      • Maintaining high standards of healthcare
      • Engaging with our consumers
    • Manage My Care
    • Patient rights and responsibilities
    • Stories from our patients
    • Partnering with Consumers
      • Consumer Advisory Councils
      • Engagement
      • Volunteering
    • Choose Wisely
    • Disability Access and Inclusion Plan
    • Patient resources
    • Aishwaryas CARE Call
  • Health Professionals
    • Referring Patients
    • COVID information for NMHS staff
      • Staff Exposures and Absences Form
      • Register your positive RAT result
      • WA Health Staff Booster Vax
      • GP information for COVID-19 positive patients
    • GP Liaison
    • Staff policies
    • Library and Information Service
    • CADD Standards
  • Research
    • About our research
    • Research ethics and governance
    • NMHS Research Strategy
    • Research news
    • Why undertake research
    • Current research
    • Research partners
  • Latest News
    • Thanks to our staff
    • Provide Feedback
    • Stories from our patients
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. 2022
  4. 02
  5. 17
  6. Syphilis Outbreak in Perth

Syphilis Outbreak in Perth

Sexual Health Week 2022

Syphilis Outbreak in Perth

Syphilis virus under magnification Syphilis virus under magnification
17/02/2022

Most often seen in films as an affliction of the 17th Century, syphilis may be thought of as a disease of a bygone era.

But did you know that there is an outbreak of syphilis in Perth? Right now? In fact, there have been more cases of syphilis diagnosed in Perth than COVID over the past year.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that, while ancient, has recently re-emerged in WA. Its wide variation of symptoms (from many to none at all) along with the difficulty this presents for diagnosis, have earnt syphilis the nickname “the great imitator”. Because it flies under the radar and is a challenge to pick-up, this insidious illness can cause a wide range of serious health problems (external site) that , if untreated, can lead to heart or nervous system conditions years after the initial infection.

There has been a marked increase in the number of women affected by syphilis and for the first time in decades, syphilis infections are being regularly diagnosed in pregnant women (external site). Syphilis can be passed on to the baby during pregnancy, which can have grave effects such as miscarriage, stillbirth, premature labour and congenital abnormalities which can result in chronic developmental and health problems.

Testing for syphilis, including additional test during pregnancy (at booking, 28 and 36 weeks), is considered vital to address the spread and this is the theme for this year’s Sexual Health Week (external site) : ‘STIs Happen – Be Proud to Test’.

Thankfully both testing and treatment for syphilis are readily available and the Metropolitan Communicable Disease Control (MCDC) and clinical teams are leading the charge in WA to confront the reality of this surge. Some of the activities they have been engaged in are:

  • following up diagnosed people to ensure that they are appropriately treated and monitored, and to confirm that their sexual contacts have also been tested and treated;
  • holding monthly ‘Syphilis in pregnancy’ meetings; congenital syphilis has been prevented in all the infected mothers monitored under this program thus far;
  • providing education and workforce development sessions to hospital staff, nursing and midwifery university students and GPs.

To find out more, go to Healthysexual, Western Australian Department of Health - Syphilis (external site) and look out for public resources available during this Sexual Health Week (external site) (14 to 21 February 2022).

Previous Next
Last Updated: 17/02/2022
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Footer menu

  • wa.gov.au
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Brought to you by the Department of Health, Western Australia

© Government of Western Australia 2018 to