Syphilis is definitely not history in B.C.
So says the in its new campaign 含羞草研究社� one that features some rather famous people drawn to look like penises.
The cartoon characters add humour to a serious campaign that aims to educate B.C. residents 含羞草研究社� especially gay and bisexual men 含羞草研究社� and encourage them to get tested for the STI, or sexually transmitted infection.
The campaign, launched on Jan. 30, features phallic characters that resemble Napoleon, Al Capone, Ivan the Terrible, Abraham Lincoln and others.
含羞草研究社淗enry VIII may be history, but syphilis is not,含羞草研究社� reads the poster on the campaign website, .
Dr. Jason Wong, a physician epidemiologist with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, said the campaign echoes a popular launched in San Francisco about a decade ago.
含羞草研究社淭hat was some of the inspiration we had for this, part of the focus-group testing we had,含羞草研究社� Wong told the Now. 含羞草研究社淚t really resonated with the audience we are looking to target. We tried to put humour into it but also still convey a serious message, that syphilis is a real problem.含羞草研究社�
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.
含羞草研究社淪yphilis has a long history,含羞草研究社� the Syphistory website notes. 含羞草研究社淭he earliest outbreak was recorded in 1494! Syphilis raged across Europe and South America during the 16th century. And during World War I, syphilis was the 2nd most common reason for soldiers missing duty.
Writer Leo Tolstoy, gangster Al Capone and artist Vincent Van Gogh are some famous people in history who had syphilis, according to the website: 含羞草研究社淎t the turn of the 20th century, it was estimated that up to 1 in 10 men in Western countries had syphilis. But the use of penicillin as a cure in the 1940含羞草研究社檚 started to win the war against syphilis. As recently as 1999, there were only a handful of cases reported and we thought syphilis could be eliminated in Canada.含羞草研究社�
But things have changed in recent years, prompting health officials to launch the Syphistory website and campaign, which also involves the .
含羞草研究社淭hink you don含羞草研究社檛 have to worry about syphilis anymore? Think again,含羞草研究社� the website states. 含羞草研究社淪ince 2000, syphilis rates have surged worldwide. In 2015, BC saw the highest rates of syphilis in over 30 years 含羞草研究社� and we含羞草研究社檙e on track to beat that record in 2016.
含羞草研究社淚n B.C., most syphilis infections are in gay, queer, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (cis and trans). The highest infection rates are among younger men (20-39 years). And about half of all infections are in gay men who are also living with HIV. Syphilis and HIV do not play well together 含羞草研究社� not only can syphilis increase your chances of getting or passing HIV, but HIV can also increase the risk of complications due to syphilis.含羞草研究社�
to learn more about syphilis and ways to protect yourself from infection.
For those seeking testing, a link on the website includes several clinics in Surrey.
含羞草研究社淭he only way to know if you have syphilis is to get tested,含羞草研究社� says the website. 含羞草研究社淪yphilis testing is usually done with a blood test. However, it may take up to 3 months before syphilis can be detected by the blood test. So, if you think you have been exposed to syphilis in the last 3 months, you need to get tested and treated.
含羞草研究社淪yphilis is curable. The best treatment for syphilis is a penicillin injection. Depending on the stage of infection, it can take up to 3 injections of penicillin to cure syphilis. Intravenous penicillin for 10 to 14 days is needed to cure neurosyphilis.含羞草研究社�
