For the first time in several years, there is a noticeable surge in the number of syphilis cases being detected in New York City. The number of cases reported in the first quarter of 2007 is more than double those reported in the first quarter of 2006. These reports come as a shock after having a decline in syphilis over the past year.

In New York City, 96 percent of the cases are reported in men and is considered to be part of an outbreak of infections in men who have sex with men. Syphilis cases in these populations have been rising again since 1999 but took a promising turn in 2005 and 2006 as the prominence of syphilis leveled off and began declining. The sudden rise in syphilis cases has the city's Health Department concerned with matters of sexual safety. Dr. Susan Blank, the department's Assistant Commissioner for Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention and Control says, “It is critical that sexually active New Yorkers reduce the risk of getting syphilis. The infection itself can be devastating and it fuels the spread of HIV.”

There has also been an increase in the number of infected men who have sex with both men and women and the concerns regarding sexual safety are for all sexually active people in New York City. The number of cases reported in women remains small but has increased from last year's three cases to 10 cases in 2007. It is difficult to gauge whether this increase is significant but could be the first significant change in the number of women diagnosed in the past 10 years.