Rising Syphilis and Continuing Education and Professional Development (CEPD) Event

Advisory Alert

January 13, 2025

*Cette information est seulement disponible en anglais.

To: Local Health Care Providers

FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

Public Health Sudbury & Districts is seeing increases in cases of infectious syphilis within our service area. Health care practitioners are encouraged to join the CME/CPD event below. The session aims to equip healthcare providers with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage a syphilis case.

Local epidemiology

The number of cases of infectious syphilis has been on the rise nationally, provincially, and locally over the last several years. There were a total of 136 cases of syphilis (all types) reported in the service area in 2024, compared to 15 in 2018. Since 2021, the Sudbury and districts service area has seen an increase of 2033% in syphilis cases among females.

In Ontario, from 2013 to 2018, an average of one early congenital case was reported per year (range: 0 to 2). Starting in 2019, an increase in early congenital syphilis cases was observed, with up to 10 reported cases per year. In 2022, there was a sharp increase in cases, with 27 cases reported in Ontario. Two cases were reported in our service area in 2024.

CME/CPD Opportunity

Public Health Sudbury & Districts has organized a Continuing Education and Professional Development (CEPD) session titled Managing Syphilis in Primary Care. The virtual session will take place on Monday, February 3, 2025, from noon to 1 p.m. EST. The session will be presented by Dr. Emily Groot. All health care providers are encouraged to attend.

This activity meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by the Continuing Education and Professional Development Office at NOSM University for up to 1.0 Mainpro+® Certified Activity credits.

This event is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and approved by the Continuing Education and Professional Development Office at NOSM University. You may claim a maximum of 1.0 hour(s) (credits are automatically calculated).

For more information on infectious syphilis and publicly funded treatment, please call the Sexual Health Clinic at 705.522.9200, ext. 482 or send an email to sexualhealthnoc@phsd.ca. You can also refer to our previous advisory alert on infectious syphilis and its treatment as per the Canadian Guidelines on Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Sincerely,

Original Signed By

M. Mustafa Hirji, MD, MPH, FRCPC
Acting Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer

NOTE: All Advisory Alerts are found on our website.

This item was last modified on January 13, 2025