A novel response to an outbreak of infectious syphilis in Christchurch, New Zealand
Edward Coughlan A F , Heather Young A , Catherine Parkes A , Maureen Coshall A , Nigel Dickson B , Rebecca Psutka B , Peter Saxton C , Ramon Pink D and Katharine Adams EA Christchurch Sexual Health Centre, Canterbury District Health Board, Private Bag 4710, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
B Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
C Gay Men’s Sexual Health Research Group, Department of Social and Community Health, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
D Medical Officer of Health, Canterbury, Community and Public Health, Division of the Canterbury District Health Board, P. O. Box 1475, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
E Canterbury District Health Board, Private Bag 4710, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
F Corresponding author. Email: edwardc@cdhb.govt.nz
Sexual Health 12(2) 170-173 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH14140
Submitted: 1 August 2014 Accepted: 2 October 2014 Published: 11 December 2014
Abstract
During 2012, Christchurch experienced a dramatic increase in cases of infectious syphilis among men who have sex with men. This was accompanied by some novel trends; notably, the acquisition of infection in a younger age group, with local sexual contacts, commonly via the use of social media. This study is a report on an approach to case identification and public health communication as a component of a multifaceted outbreak response. Enhanced syphilis surveillance data on public health responses to outbreaks of sexually transmissible infections was collated and reviewed, alongside clinical records and literature. Reported outbreak response methods were adapted for the Christchurch cohort. A Facebook page was created to raise awareness of infectious syphilis, the importance of screening and where to get tested. Twenty-six males were diagnosed with infectious syphilis in 2012, an increase from previous years, of which 22 reported only male sexual contact. High use of social media used to find potential sexual contacts was reported. Enhanced syphilis surveillance characterised in detail an infectious syphilis outbreak in Christchurch. Index cases were identified, contact tracing mapping was used to identify transmission networks and social media was also used to educate the risk group. There was a decrease in infectious syphilis presentations, with no cases in the last 3 months of 2012.
Additional keywords: contact tracing, MSM, social media.
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