CorkBeo: Free at-home STI testing service extended for Cork amid Syphilis outbreak

Health authorities are saying that the situation requires "urgent action".

By Eimer McAuley, Rebecca Laffan, Paul Moore.

A service which provides free, at-home STI testing kits is being extended for those living in Cork following a national outbreak of Syphilis.

The HSE has confirmed the national outbreak of early infectious syphilis (EIS) in Ireland, with cases back on the rise again after falling during the first wave of the Covid-19 virus in April last year.

However, before the pandemic, cases of the sexually transmitted infection had already been on the up by 54% - with latest indications showing that 2021 could see yet another huge increase.

The HSE have teamed up with SH:24 to provide free home testing kits for those living in several counties, including Cork, Kerry, Wicklow, Dublin and Kildare.

The online service is being extended for almost two months until the end of August, with follow-up treatment or support also provided for free by HSE-funded STI clinics in Cork.

Phil Corcoran, Senior Health Advisor at Cork's Sexual Health Centre, said the increase in Syphilis cases is being seen more so in heterosexual people and those aged 25-34 in the past couple of years.

Health authorities have since said that the situation requires "urgent action", and though a majority of cases are found in males (91% so far in 2021), there has also been an increase in cases in females.

Here's how many cases there have been in recent years:

• 2018: 484

• 2019: 745

• 2020: 562

• 2021: 242 (January 1st - April 30th)

In a statement, health authorities said: "There is a potentially large undiagnosed reservoir of syphilis infection in Ireland due in part to the impact of COVID-19.

"Syphilis is a very treatable sexually transmitted infection (STI) and early recognition and treatment are critical to preventing avoidable morbidity for those infected and onward transmission to others.

"If an infection remains untreated, it can cause serious health problems to the heart, brain, eyes and nervous system.

"Primary, secondary and early latent syphilis are sexually infectious and are collectively termed EIS.

"Syphilis can also be passed from mother to foetus in utero, known as congenital syphilis."

In terms of the symptoms, EIS can present patients with a genital ulcer (primary chancre), rash, or eye problems (in particular symptoms and signs of uveitis).