Nova Scotia has declared a provincial outbreak of syphilis after witnessing a hike in the number of cases last year.
Public health officials disclosed 82 cases of syphilis were recorded in 2019 as against with 50 cases in 2018 and 38 cases in 2017.
Twenty percent of the cases recorded last year were women, while it was 10 percent the year before.
Syphilis is a bacteria infection that is sexually transmitted infection and can be contracted through anal, oral or vaginal sex that is unprotected.
A Deputy Medical Officer Doctor Gaynor Watson-Creed says practicing safer sex and going for syphilis test can help reduce the numbers of syphilis infections.
The illness can be treated with antibiotics but advanced stages of syphilis can create serious impacts to the brain, heart and other vital organs. It can also lead to death.
The last outbreak of syphilis in the province occurred in the Halifax area in 2009 and it peaked in 2013 with 84 cases.
