Public Health Officer in NWT asks people to exercise more caution to prevent the spread of syphilis as children are born with the congenital form of the disease. Dr. Kami Kandola, Chief Public Health Officer, said in an interview: Since July, two babies have been born with congenital syphilis, bringing the total number to four since the syphilis outbreak was declared in 2019.

Congenital syphilis occurs when the mother transmits the infection to her baby during pregnancy. If left untreated, it can lead to blindness, deafness, or bone deformities in the child. Kandola said: "We have had at least nine women who tested positive for syphilis during their pregnancies, and we are now also seeing syphilis reaching street-involved communities, which makes it really difficult to identify cases and contact."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

* Deformed bones

* Severe anemia (low blood count)

* Enlarged liver and spleen Jaundice

* (Yellowing of the skin or eyes)

* Brain and nerve problems, such as blindness or deafness

* Meningitis and rash

Kandola urges people to get tested at least three times during pregnancy. "Because you can get treatment and the treatment is very effective," but if partners or contacts are not treated, people can get reinfected and then return to square one."

Working with vulnerable populations The Department of Health in NWT is working on solutions because syphilis is spreading throughout the territory and to populations who may not be able to access the healthcare system or who do not trust hospitals or clinics. These solutions include rapid syphilis tests that can be taken to the streets and free condom stations. Rapid tests were announced in July and started on the streets of Yellowknife last month.

Kandola said test results were revealed in 15 minutes and so far 20 tests have been conducted, noting that phase two will bring rapid testing to Hay River, Whatì, Fort Smith, Fort Simpson, Fort Providence, and Fort Resolution. Earlier this week, the Department of Health and Social Services also announced that 200 free condom dispensers will be installed in public places across the territory. Kandola said the goal is to have all dispensers in place by the holidays. While condoms do not protect 100 percent against syphilis, Kandola said when used consistently they reduce the risks. Side effects can be deadly if the chronic and contagious disease is left untreated. It is preventable and treatable.

But the region has seen more than 300 cases in the past four years. One theory indicating the rise in cases is that the numbers are catching up after a lack of testing during COVID-19 restrictions. "It's almost like having a small local fire – as cases increase, tracing cases becomes more complicated because there are more infected people and not enough additional people [who] could be infected," Kandola said, pointing out that the infection can be transmitted for up to a year. Kandola explained that there are several stages of infection. In the first stage, between 10 days to three months, a painless sore may appear. In the second stage, from two weeks to eight weeks,

people can develop a rash or experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, and sore throat. There is also a latent stage where people may show no symptoms, and a third stage where – if left untreated for a year or more – people can develop blindness, mental health disorders, or suffer damage to the brain, heart, eyes, nervous system, and even risk death.

Kandola said: Testing is key. "The main thing is that people will not be able to recognize that they have syphilis symptoms. They might think it’s something else or may not see the painless sore."

Editor: Yusra Bamtraf