Rapid Increase in Syphilis Amid COVID-19 in US and Japan... Popularity of Self-Diagnosis Kits [Reading Science]

International Academic Journal Nature Report

Photo by Oh Seong-su

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Syphilis, a type of sexually transmitted disease (STD) transmitted through sexual activity, is showing a rapid increase in several countries even amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, health authorities in these countries have introduced home self-testing kits to actively promote screening and treatment.

According to the international academic journal Nature on the 20th, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the number of syphilis cases during the first year of the pandemic last April reached 133,945, a 52% increase compared to 2016. The CDC also noted that this increase is likely underestimated because medical institutions limited face-to-face consultations after the pandemic began.

The number of syphilis patients in the U.S. remained around 60,000 to 70,000 in the 1980s but surged to around 130,000 around 1990. It then decreased to about 30,000 in the 2000s but has been rapidly increasing since around 2015. Since 2019, the number has surpassed 130,000, returning to levels seen 30 years ago.

Syphilis is also rapidly increasing in Japan. The National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Japan reported on April 10 that the number of syphilis patients this year reached 2,592, growing 1.6 times faster than the previous year. Last year, Japan recorded 7,875 syphilis cases, the highest since statistics began in 1999. The number of syphilis patients in Japan has shown a sharp increase from about 500 annually in 1997 to over 5,000 in 2017.

Syphilis, a representative STD that has plagued humanity for over 500 years, is caused by infection with the bacterium Treponema pallidum. After the invention of the treatment penicillin and the use of condoms, it was nearly eradicated but has been resurging worldwide over the past decade. If untreated, it can cause severe brain damage and be fatal; congenital infection in fetuses is especially problematic.

To address this situation, health authorities are encouraging self-testing for syphilis and other STDs. A notable example is California, which began enforcing a law in January requiring personal health insurance to cover STD testing costs.

Deepinate Namo, Senior Program Manager at Pangea Zimbabwe AIDS Trust, told Nature, "Self-testing can be a good means to help people access screening more easily," adding, "Results can be obtained within 20 to 30 minutes, and it also helps avoid negative perceptions from healthcare providers."