Nine people in Tompkins County, including several Cornell students, faculty and staff, have been diagnosed with syphilis in the past year, compared with a typical rate of one case a year, Gannett Health Services and the Tompkins County Health Department report.

Gannett is offering free testing in an effort to prevent further transmission and ensure appropriate treatment for those already exposed.

"This increase reflects a troubling national trend in the spread of syphilis, a highly contagious, yet treatable, disease," said Janet Corson-Rikert, M.D., executive director of Gannett. "Further heightening local concern, some of the individuals recently diagnosed with syphilis have been found to be co-infected with HIV."

She noted, "A number of cases have involved men who have had multiple sexual partners, both male and female."

As required by state law, country health department specialists have talked with infected individuals to trace their sexual partners, who may also have been exposed. Those identified to date have been referred for testing and treatment.

"Unfortunately, contact tracing has been incomplete due to patterns of anonymous and Internet-facilitated sexual encounters," said Corson-Rikert.

For more information:

• For general audiences, see http://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/STDFact-Syphilis.htm for information on syphilis and http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/index.htm for HIV and AIDS;
• For men who have sex with men, see also http://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/STDFact-MSM&Syphilis.htm for information on syphilis and http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/msm/resources/factsheets/msm.htm for HIV and AIDS.
• For information about syphilis and other public health issues in Tompkins County, contact Tompkins County Department of Health: http://www.co.tompkins.ny.us/health, 274-6604.

Who should get tested?

• Anyone who has had or whose partner has had anonymous sexual activity;
• Anyone who has had unprotected sex and is concerned they may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection;
• Anyone who thinks they may have symptoms of syphilis or HIV (review information cited above).

Testing in Ithaca

• Gannett Health Services is offering free and confidential syphilis and HIV testing for members of the Cornell community, Monday through Thursday until May 15, by appointment: 255-5155, see http://www.gannett.cornell.edu/ for information about testing, treatment, sexual health care and prevention/risk reduction strategies.
• Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes offers free syphilis and HIV testing for any Tompkins County resident: 273-1513, see http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ppsfl.
• Tompkins County Health Department offers free anonymous HIV testing: 274-6683.
• Many private physicians offer syphilis and HIV testing.