San Francisco syphilis cases hit the 400 mark

Dear friends:

The failure of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, along with HIV/STD prevention groups, to control and prevent sexually transmitted diseases continues.

The latest monthly STD report, which is through August 2002, http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/Reports/STD/STD0208.pdf, shows alarming increases.

The most depressing bit of news in the report is that 403 syphilis cases have been recorded so far this year. This is more than doubling the number of syphilis cases reported last year at this time, when San Francisco had only 160 syphilis cases.

In the editorial note for the latest report, DPH states that "[m]ore than 90% of early syphilis cases are among gay and bisexual men. Knowledge about syphilis symptoms is low in this community."

Quite a startling claim, considering that DPH has bombarded the gay community for the past three or four years with widespread media campaigns about syphilis.

Male rectal gonorrhea case are also climbing. There were 153 cases at this point in 2001, while 224 such cases have been diagnosed so far in 2002.

There's also been a jump in male oral gonorrhea diagnoses. Last year at this point, 180 oral cases were reported, but 302 cases have been documented so far this year.

Of course, an argument could be made that perhaps the syphilis and gonorrhea increases are due to more tests being performed, and on more people, but the DPH does not release the numbers of tests performed so there is no way of knowing if the increases are because of more disease transmission or increased tests.

For me, the bottom line is that these STD surges come amid continuing increases of HIV infections, showing DPH is a miserable failure when it comes to preventing HIV/STD infections. As we all know, the DPH said in 2000 that San Francisco was experiencing sub-Saharan levels of new HIV transmissions, and the numbers have grown since then.

In Detroit this month, two health department employees lost their jobs over the rising rates of syphilis in that city. Why is it that in Detroit heads rolls when the health department fails to control and prevent STDs, while in San Francisco the DPH employees responsible for the failed programs that are contributing to syphilis and gonorrhea increases are kept on the payroll?

Amid the STD surges in the new report, there is something that is declining. The number of confidential HIV tests performed at the City Clinic on 7th Street is down.

Last year at this point, 3,391 HIV antibody tests were administered. But only 1,617 such tests have been performed so far in 2002.

Why are the number of HIV tests conducted dropping so dramatically? Could it be that high-risk individuals are rejecting the "get tested" messages of DPH and HIV prevention groups?

To a certain degree, I'd say yes. Just as I think many sexually active gay men are tuning out safe sex messages.

The big problem with the ineffective HIV and STD programs of DPH and AIDS groups is the failure of the people running the programs to take responsibility for the surge in new infections. If the HIV and STD rates were declining, the groups would be falling over themselves to take credit. But they seem to absolve themselves of any responsibility when the number are rising.

I hope that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with Congress, examine how millions of dollars in HIV and STD prevention programs for San Francisco are failing to stop new transmissions.

Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA