Health Experts Say Oklahoma Will See A Rise Of Syphilis Cases

Experts say this disease is curable, but it is Important for people to get tested, because an untreated case can lead to something much worse.

"Syphilis really is a quite serious illness," Ellen Niemitalo with the Tulsa Health Department says. 

"Like I said it may have some symptoms that just resolve like the shanker or the rash, but at any point in a Syphilis infection, it can affect the neurological system, it can infect the ocular system."

The Health Department says in 2016, Tulsa County had 93 cases of the sexually transmitted infection. 

But In 2020, that number jumped to 512.

Ellen Niemitalo with THD warns those numbers could get higher.

"The 2021 numbers and not in and confirmed yet but they are expected to be even higher than the 2020, so that really is a huge increase in the Syphilis rates," Niemitalo said. 

The State Department of Health also reports Oklahoma has seen a 283 percent increase in congenital Syphilis, which is a form of the disease that is spread from a pregnant woman to their unborn child.

Timmeni Stevens, a physician at Hillcrest Hospital South says this version of the disease can have severe effects on a newborn.

She says even though issues like this can be uncomfortable to talk about, finding the right doctor could be key to staying healthy. 

"I think first and foremost it's important you find a physician you trust and that you can easily talk with and somebody that opens up those conversations and that dialogue," Stevens said. 

Niemitalo says the Tulsa Health Department offers testing and treatment for this and other STDS. 

You can go to their website here https://www.tulsa-health.org/personal-and-family-health/testing-and-immunizations/std-testing

or call the number 918-582-9355 to make an appointment.