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Maine CDC Health Advisory
September 5, 2018
Dramatic Increases in Cases of Syphilis and Gonorrhea
In 2017, the number of infectious syphilis cases increased 77% and the number of gonorrhea cases increased 30% in Maine. Through the end of June 2018, Maine saw case counts of gonorrhea that are twice the five-year median and case counts of syphilis that are three times the five-year median.
Maine CDC recommends screening for all at-risk people and appropriate treatment for infected individuals. Syphilis and gonorrhea are serious infections that can cause infertility, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths in infants and heightens the risk of HIV transmission. Furthermore, the increase in incidence of STDs in the United States and Maine increases the risk of congenital syphilis and antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea.
