Steadily growing since the early 2000’s, the number of syphilis cases in Lee County saw an alarming spike in the first half of this year- already surpassing the total number of new reported cases in all of 2016. According to the Florida Department of Health in Lee County, there are 106 new cases of early syphilis infection confirmed as of July. In all of 2016, 96 cases were reported- which follows a trend that saw syphilis cases jump by more than 70% in the past seven years.
Today on Gulf Coast Live we look back at a piece in which we first reported these syphilis numbers at the beginning of the year. We talked with Dr. Doug Brust with Lee Health about what he’s seen in patients coming to him in Lee county. We also talk with Diana Pratt, the program director for the seven- county STD program with the Florida Department of Health.
