The following is a press release issued by Mendocino County Public Health:
We were alarmed by forty (40) new cases of syphilis in 2022. In 2023 Mendocino County had an all-time high with 53 reported cases. We have also had two (2) cases involving the brain, called neurosyphilis, and one case of syphilis from an infected mother to her newborn.
Syphilis that gets into the brain is as serious as it sounds. It can cause blindness, loss of coordination, memory loss, or seizures, which can happen late or early in the disease.
People become infected with syphilis by direct sexual contact with someone who has an open, painless sore on the genitals and/or rash on the body, hands, and feet. If you have an open sore or rash, you should see a health care provider and get evaluated.
If you think you have been exposed to syphilis, please see a healthcare provider for more information about treatment options such as Doxycycline PEP (post exposure prophylaxis), a preventative treatment. PEP must start within 72 hours after exposure. This is not yet in CDC and CDPH protocols but can be used off-label for prevention. For information about syphilis, see
www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/pages/Syphilis.aspx.
HIV
In the past two years, there have been four (4) new cases of HIV in Mendocino County. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. People who have unprotected sex or share drug equipment with a person who has HIV can get it. HIV requires a lifetime of treatment.
There are ways to protect yourself. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) protects against HIV infection and is effective if used properly. PrEP might be a good choice for you if your partner lives with HIV, your partner’s status is unknown, you or your partner uses injection drugs, or you’ve had a sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the past six months. PrEP does not help in the protection against other STDs. For information about PrEP, please visit pleasePrEPme.org. or Free PrEP and PEP – Color Health.
If you had sexual contact or shared injection drugs with a partner whose history is unknown, you may be eligible for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). PEP is a way to prevent HIV if you think you’ve been exposed. PEP must start within 72 hours after exposure. Note: People taking PrEP do not need to take PEP.
For more information, please talk to a healthcare provider about PrEP and PEP. Please discuss how you can best stay free of all sexually transmitted diseases.
Yikes, neurosyphilis is what Al Capone slowly died from. Unprotected sex with strangers can get ya kilt!
Not sure if there’s anywhere in the county besides (possibly?) Planned Parenthood in Ukiah that does walk in STI testing but it sure would be a valuable resource for the community.
Different stds require different testing, there is no catch all blood test for the wide span.
Makes sense. Look around. Mendo County is disgusting.