Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing Syphilis Research — Innovations in Treponema pallidum Cultivation and Genetic Engineering
09:45

Author Spotlight: Advancing Syphilis Research — Innovations in Treponema pallidum Cultivation and Genetic Engineering

Published on: January 24, 2025

6.9K

Recent outbreaks of infectious syphilis, United Kingdom, January 2012 to April 2014

I Simms1, L Wallace, D R Thomas

  • 1HIV&STI Department, Health Protection Services, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom.

Euro Surveillance : Bulletin Europeen Sur Les Maladies Transmissibles = European Communicable Disease Bulletin
|June 28, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Six UK infectious syphilis outbreaks occurred since 2012 among men who have sex with men (MSM) and young heterosexuals. Geospatial apps complicated outbreak control among MSM due to anonymous partners.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Six infectious syphilis outbreaks have been ongoing in the UK since 2012.
  • These outbreaks primarily affected men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexual individuals under 25 years old.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the characteristics and contributing factors of recent infectious syphilis outbreaks in the UK.
  • To understand the challenges in controlling outbreaks within specific at-risk populations.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated six infectious syphilis outbreaks in the UK.
  • Implemented interventions including case finding and awareness campaigns for healthcare professionals and the public.
  • Analyzed factors influencing transmission, particularly the role of geospatial networking applications among MSM.

Main Results:

  • Outbreaks involved both men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexual men and women under 25.
  • Control efforts were hindered by anonymous sexual encounters.
  • Geospatial real-time networking applications were identified as a significant factor in outbreaks among MSM.

Conclusions:

  • Infectious syphilis outbreaks pose an ongoing public health challenge in the UK.
  • Targeting interventions is complex due to anonymous partnerships and the influence of technology on sexual networking.
  • Further strategies are needed to address syphilis transmission dynamics, especially among MSM utilizing dating applications.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Controlled Human Exposure Model for Tick Research and Lyme Disease Studies04:47

Author Spotlight: Controlled Human Exposure Model for Tick Research and Lyme Disease Studies

Published on: December 1, 2023

1.3K
Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR07:20

Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR

Published on: February 4, 2018

21.9K

Related Concept Videos

Sexually Transmitted Infections01:26

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
1.9K
Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence01:28

Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence

Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable...
89
Investigation of Disease Outbreaks01:23

Investigation of Disease Outbreaks

Multistate foodborne outbreaks pose significant public health risks and require meticulous investigation to identify sources and implement control measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilizes a dynamic seven-step process for these investigations, integrating data from laboratories, interviews, and environmental assessments to protect public health.Outbreak Detection: The detection of multistate outbreaks typically begins with PulseNet, the CDC's national laboratory...
71
Steps in Outbreak Investigation01:18

Steps in Outbreak Investigation

In the ever-evolving field of public health, statistical analysis serves as a cornerstone for understanding and managing disease outbreaks. By leveraging various statistical tools, health professionals can predict potential outbreaks, analyze ongoing situations, and devise effective responses to mitigate impact. For that to happen, there are a few possible stages of the analysis:
779
Infection01:20

Infection

When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. Therefore, its prevention requires breaking the chain of infection.
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
11.4K
Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis01:25

Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis

Endocarditis can present various clinical features depending on the causative organism and the patient's underlying health conditions. Initially, the clinical features of infective endocarditis develop gradually, presenting with nonspecific symptoms that can be easily mistaken for other illnesses.General SymptomsEarly symptoms of infective endocarditis are fever, chills, weakness, malaise, fatigue, and weight loss. These symptoms reflect the systemic nature of the infection and the body's...
919