Scotland : Syphilis rates highest in over 60 years among gay and bisexual men

Syphilis rates in Scotland are the highest in more than 60 years amid a spike in diagnoses among gay and bisexual men.

The incidence of the sexually transmitted infection has been rising steadily but reached a new peak in 2016 when a total of 356 diagnoses were confirmed, up 13 per cent year on year. It the highest annual total since at least 1952.

The majority of patients – 336 – were men, including 295 who were either gay or bisexual. Men who have sex with men accounted for 83 per cent of the diagnoses last year. There were also 20 cases diagnosed among women.

Photo By Lance Cpl. Shawn Valosin (https://www.dvidshub.net/image/1189257) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons