Is syphilis resurgent in New Zealand in the 21st century? A case series of infectious syphilis presenting to the Auckland Sexual Health Service.

Bacterial sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea have been on the rise in recent years in New Zealand. Infectious syphilis has however remained rare over the last few decades, except in New Zealanders who have had sex overseas or in recent immigrants. However, in the previous 2 and a half years (1/2002-9/2004), the number of people presenting to Auckland Sexual Health Service with infectious syphilis has more than doubled. The main people at risk for acquiring infectious syphilis appear to be either men who have sex with men, or heterosexuals who have recently had sex overseas. More information is urgently required about the epidemiology of syphilis in New Zealand. One expedient way to determine whether we have an emerging epidemic would be to make syphilis a notifiable condition.