Syphilis on the rise among men in Cork and Kerry

There has been a significant rise in the number of cases of syphilis in Cork and Kerry in the last year, with men who have sex with men accounting for the majority of instances.

Between January and June 2015, seven cases of the sexually transmitted disease were reported in the two counties. That figure rose to 23 cases between July and December, and 21 cases from January to June this year.

The HSE’s department of public health in Cork said eight in ten reported cases were among men who have sex with men. It advised all sexually active men who have or had sex with men, and women whose partners have sex with men, to get tested for STIs and always use a condom during sex.