SALEM, Ore. — State health officials say they’re alarmed by increased numbers of syphilis and gonorrhea cases in Oregon.The Salem Statesman Journal reports that Oregon Health Authority figures show that early syphilis cases are at their highest levels since 1989.
The agency says gonorrhea cases jumped 18 percent from 2012 to 2013.
Dr. Sean Schafer, a medical epidemiologist with the authority, says the numbers are reminiscent of those from the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Oregon’s syphilis rate, at 10 per 100,000 people, is almost twice that of the national rate, 5.3 cases per 100,000.
