S.F. Marks Sharp Rise in Syphilis

The number of cases of syphilis infection here has nearly tripled since 1998--with the largest increase occurring among gay and bisexual men--a trend that has alarmed local health experts by suggesting a breakdown in safe sex practices.

Officials say that 116 cases were reported through September, compared with 71 in all of 2000. There were 47 cases in 1999 and 39 in 1998. Of the cases reported this year, 93 were among gay or bisexual men, up from 47 last year, 29 in 1999 and 10 in 1998.

“We’re seeing a startling rise in the number of syphilis cases in this city,” said Eileen Shields, a spokeswoman for San Francisco’s Department of Public Health.

The agency’s findings will be presented today at a meeting here of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

The study shows that the 93 gay and bisexual men who reported infection this year had a total of 1,225 sexual partners, Shields said.

Of the 1,225, only 8% could be identified by name, making it nearly impossible to notify partners to seek treatment for possible sexually transmitted disease.

Officials said they were concerned over the anonymous nature of the sexual encounters. Among the gay and bisexual men who reported syphilis cases in the last two years, 23% met recent partners in sex clubs, 20% in adult bookstores, 19% on the Internet and 18% in bathhouses outside San Francisco.

“It’s casual sex,” Shields said. “It’s a lot of one-night stands. Sex clubs and bathhouses don’t suggest people know one another’s names when they’re having sex.”

Health officials said they were working with the owners of sex establishments and Internet chat rooms where men meet to make sure that patrons are aware of the risks of syphilis infection and that they know where to go for treatment.