HSE declares syphilis outbreak nationally as Limerick clinic 'flooded' with test requests 

Figures for January to April show 245 cases, compared to 484 for all of 2018

245 cases of syphilis were recorded from January to April this year. 

A syphilis outbreak has been declared by the HSE, with sexual health clinics seeing a rise in cases and requests for testing kits.

Almost one in 10 cases are in the Cork/Kerry region, followed by the Mid-West region of Limerick, Clare and Tipperary North, with 4% of all cases. The remainder are in the Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow region.