Over the last 30 years, the sexually transmitted infection syphilis has fallen off the radar somewhat. However new Scottish figures have shown that levels of the infection are the highest they have been for 56 years.
As part of a report into the sexual health of the nation, Health Protection Scotland and the Information Services Division (both part of the NHS) released data showing that in 2008, 264 cases of the infection were diagnosed, 15 more than the previous year. This is the highest annual total since the mid-fifties.
Over the past 5 years, the number of diagnosis at GUM clinics has risen by 28%. The figures also showed that despite the 15-25 age group only representing 13% of the Scottish population, they accounted for 75% of all cases of chlamydia.
Gonorrhoea was also on the rise, with 1,644 people diagnosed with the infection at their local GUM clinic. This was a 6% rise on the previous year and there was an even bigger increase of 30% in the number of cases diagnosed in women.
One of the report’s authors, Dr. Lesley Wallace of Health Protection Scotland, said that the results showed that there needed to be a shift in sexual behaviour, with an increased emphasis on safe sex and regular sexual health check ups. He added that this was especially important for those with new partners or those who had casual sexual partners.
The Scottish minister for Public Health Shona Robison said of the report that they knew that STI rates were increasing and that ministers were planning on working with the NHS to ‘drive down’ the rates of STIs and improve education about safe sex.