Ukraine reports 100s of syphilis cases in first 5 months, Health officials work to modernize the surveillance system
From January 1 to May 31, 766 new cases of syphilis have been recorded in Ukraine, according to the Public Health Center (PHC) of Ukraine. In all of 2024, 2,101 new cases of syphilis were registered in the country.
To enable epidemiologists and doctors in the field to more effectively detect syphilis and other STIs, the Center for Public Health is working to modernize the surveillance system. In particular, with the co-financing of the European Union, the Center for Public Health is implementing the MISUPH project , which involves training epidemiologists and doctors in early detection and monitoring of STIs.
The infection is sexually transmitted and can progress unnoticed for years, affecting the nervous and cardiovascular systems, as syphilis is often asymptomatic and is detected in the late stages.
In the early stages, syphilis appears as sores (chancres) — usually at the site of infection (genitals, anus, mouth). Over time, the sores disappear, and in their place new symptoms appear — light spots or rashes. When these signs disappear, the infection continues to develop in the body, destroying internal organs.
The most effective protection against syphilis is using condoms and getting tested regularly for STIs (sexually transmitted infections), especially if you don't know your partner's sexual history.
A syphilis screening test can be done free of charge with a doctor's referral or you can purchase a rapid test at a pharmacy. The procedure takes about 15 minutes.
The main thing is to consult a physician as soon as possible to detect the disease and begin treatment for syphilis. For this, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics.