The Northern Health Region is seeing an increase in cases of Syphilis.

Dr. Michael Isaac says usually the City will see 1 or 2 cases of the sexually transmitted disease a year. In the last 6 months, they have already seen 10.

Dr. Isaac tells us that syphilis is new to the north because we haven't seen it in a while, so the NRHA is trying to update staff on what it looks like and what to do about it. They are also doing outreach in the community by going to different places like the homeless shelter to do some education.

Social media may be playing a role in the rise of cases. Isaac says people hooking up through apps like tinder and grinder make it hard for public health to follow up on individuals who may have contracted the disease. 

Syphilis usually appears in the form of an open sore 3 days to 3 months after exposure.

Isaac is recommending people who have had sex with anonymous or casual partners to get tested.