'Horrifying' number of syphilis infections in Alberta reaching pre-antibiotic levels

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Cases of the disease in Alberta have exploded since 2000, when only 17 were reported. By 2020, there were 2,509 cases in the province.

"The highest rates we've seen since the 1940s, which is, of course, the pre-antibiotic era," said Dr. Ameeta Singh, an infectious disease specialist who works at Edmonton's Royal Alexandra Hospital.

Most cases in Edmonton

Almost half the cases were in Edmonton, which had about three times as many as were reported in Calgary. In fact, Edmonton has one of the highest syphilis rates in Canada.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmon...vels-1.6139240

This problem has been escalating since the early 2000s and it is only getting worse. How do you even solve something like this?

[CroFlames]

Can this be cured, or just treated indefinitely to keep someone alive and symptom free?

I feel like I haven't heard about syphilis in like... 20 years.

[InglewoodFan]

Sad that the Plenty of Syph campaign got cut short 10 years ago. This all could have been avoided.

[Baron von Kriterium]

Originally Posted by InglewoodFan

Sad that the Plenty of Syph campaign got cut short 10 years ago. This all could have been avoided.

This shouldn't surprise anyone; there's an Army base in Edmonton.

[TorqueDog]

Import koalas to the province and battle the syphillis with chlamydia.

Koala koala koala koala
Koala chlamydia.
It comes and goooooes,
It comes and gooooOoOOooes.

[Monahammer]

If you read the article, it makes pretty specific links between the rise in cases and the prevalence in infected drug users (particularly Meth).

IMO this would blunt the effectiveness of straight educational or awareness campaigns- these people are, largely, already risk takers engaging in some of the most questionable drug use possible.

Not offering any solutions, just an observation. But I think this is a symptom of a larger problem.

Edit: it's also very sad as the rise includes a steep rise in the amount of congenital syphillis cases (babies getting it from Mom) which are entirely preventable with proper prenatal testing and care (standardized.) So a large part of the rise of cases is attributable to people who arent even going to the DR when they're pregnant. Anyways, it's clearly part of a societal rift.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Baron von Kriterium

This shouldn't surprise anyone; there's an Army base in Edmonton.

I wonder why The Hat and Wainwright don't have higher numbers, they see more $hit eaters.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I wonder why The Hat and Wainwright don't have higher numbers, they see more $hit eaters.

Does the army also have a meth problem?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Does the army also have a meth problem?

lost me

[blankall]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Can this be cured, or just treated indefinitely to keep someone alive and symptom free?

I feel like I haven't heard about syphilis in like... 20 years.

Syphilis can be easily cured with antibiotics, but if untreated, it can do long term damage that is permanent, even if the syphilis is cured afterwards.

[Locke]

Oh Edmonton...they just cant help being a 'Blast from the Past.'

[EVERLAST]

Nm

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Does the army also have a meth problem?

well they did invent meth

[Ozy_Flame]

Neurosyphilis is a real thing. Like literally Syphilis on the brain. It can really wreak havoc on one's system and be a very depressing to way go. Al Capone had it in his final years, and I felt the movie Capone did a good job capturing what its like with the disease, especially the neuropsychiatric symptoms like delirium, psychosis, and dementia.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

well they did invent meth

They didn’t invent it, but they certainly saw the potential.