Beethoven & Al Capone are making “syphistory”

What do Van Gogh, Henry VIII, Leo Tolstoy and Al Capone have in common?  Syphilis. And while they’re history, syphilis is not.  In fact syphilis rates in BC keep going up.

The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has started a new awareness campaign to educate people about the dangers of the sexually transmitted infection. The campaign was developed with historical “figures”, including Van Gogh and Al Capone, who had had the infections.

What to tell your clients/patients

• If you are sexually active get tested every three to six months.
• Regular use of condoms will reduce the risk of picking up or passing on both syphilis and HIV, though contact with a sore outside of the area covered by a condom can still cause syphilis infection.
• Syphilis is often passed along by people who don’t have symptoms and who don’t know they are infected.
• Don’t have sex with someone if they have symptoms or if they are being treated for syphilis until their treatment is complete.

Stats

• In BC, most syphilis infections are in gay, queer, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (cis and trans).
• The highest infection rates are among younger men (20-39 years).
• About 1/2 of all infections are in gay men who are also living with HIV.
• If you have syphilis in its earlier stages, the chance of passing it to a partner is about 30%.
• The bacteria can cause serious health concerns including blindness, mental illness, problems with the heart and nervous system and even death.

For more info

Check out syphistory.ca for more facts and test your syphilis knowledge!