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Marked rise in syphilis cases across South West Wales

South West Wales is experiencing a 5-fold rise in cases of syphilis, which has prompted sexual health professionals to urge people not to engage in unsafe sex.

In total, 56 cases of syphilis have been confirmed across the Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend regions of Wales since April 2018, with the past 2 weeks alone accounting for 16 cases. This figure is substantially high compared to 11 cases in April-September 2017 and 8 in April-September 2016.

This rise in the diagnosis of syphilis is believed to have resulted from the proliferation of online dating sites and apps. According to Sexual health sister, Carly Porter, it is often difficult for diagnosed patients to contact previous sexual partners whom they had met through a dating app. In some cases, the profiles get deleted. Consequently, several individuals remain unaware that they may have the condition. Sexual health lead nurse, Joanne Hearne, adds that people may have possibly become more sexually active owing to the heatwave earlier in the summer.

Syphilis can easily be treated with antibiotics; however, an untreated infection could spread to other parts of the body resulting in serious, long-term complications. Individuals who have had unprotected sex recently are being advised to visit Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University's sexual health clinics to get screened for syphilis.


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