OBJECTIVES: This study assessed a strategy designed to contain imported cases of syphilis and prevent reestablishment of ongoing transmission. METHODS: Reported syphilis cases during an endemic period (1990-1992) and an elimination period (1997-1998) were compared in San Diego, Calif. The elimination strategy, which focuses on rapid reporting of infectious syphilis cases by clinicians, prompt partner and sexual network management, outreach to marginalized populations, and implementation of an outbreak containment plan, was evaluated. RESULTS: Infectious syphilis incidence rates declined from 18.3 per 100,000 in 1998 to 1.0 per 100,000 in 1998. Of the 46 cases involving probable infection during 1997-1998, 19 (41%) were imported, mostly (79%) from Mexico. Outbreak containment procedures were implemented successfully for 2 small clusters. Outreach workers provided sexually transmitted disease information to a large number of individuals; however, no cases of infectious syphilis were identified, suggesting that syphilis transmission was not occurring among marginalized groups. CONCLUSIONS: This syphilis elimination and importation control strategy will require monitoring and adjustments. Controlling syphilis along the US-Mexico border is a necessary component of syphilis elimination in the United States.
OBJECTIVES: This study assessed a strategy designed to contain imported cases of syphilis and prevent reestablishment of ongoing transmission. METHODS: Reported syphilis cases during an endemic period (1990-1992) and an elimination period (1997-1998) were compared in San Diego, Calif. The elimination strategy, which focuses on rapid reporting of infectious syphilis cases by clinicians, prompt partner and sexual network management, outreach to marginalized populations, and implementation of an outbreak containment plan, was evaluated. RESULTS: Infectious syphilis incidence rates declined from 18.3 per 100,000 in 1998 to 1.0 per 100,000 in 1998. Of the 46 cases involving probable infection during 1997-1998, 19 (41%) were imported, mostly (79%) from Mexico. Outbreak containment procedures were implemented successfully for 2 small clusters. Outreach workers provided sexually transmitted disease information to a large number of individuals; however, no cases of infectious syphilis were identified, suggesting that syphilis transmission was not occurring among marginalized groups. CONCLUSIONS: This syphilis elimination and importation control strategy will require monitoring and adjustments. Controlling syphilis along the US-Mexico border is a necessary component of syphilis elimination in the United States.
Authors: L A Williams; J D Klausner; W L Whittington; H H Handsfield; C Celum; K K Holmes Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 1999-07 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: R A Gunn; J M Montes; K E Toomey; R T Rolfs; J R Greenspan; C E Spitters; S H Waterman Journal: Sex Transm Dis Date: 1995 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 2.830
Authors: Michelle Weinberg; Stephen Waterman; Carlos Alvarez Lucas; Veronica Carrion Falcon; Pablo Kuri Morales; Luis Anaya Lopez; Chris Peter; Alejandro Escobar Gutiérrez; Ernesto Ramirez Gonzalez; Ana Flisser; Ralph Bryan; Enrique Navarro Valle; Alfonso Rodriguez; Gerardo Alvarez Hernandez; Cecilia Rosales; Javier Arias Ortiz; Michael Landen; Hugo Vilchis; Julie Rawlings; Francisco Lopez Leal; Luis Ortega; Elaine Flagg; Roberto Tapia Conyer; Martin Cetron Journal: Emerg Infect Dis Date: 2003-01 Impact factor: 6.883