County Experiences Large Syphilis Outbreak

The number of syphilis cases in Roosevelt County and on the Fort Peck Reservation has reached historic amounts during 2021 and the start of 2022.

“This is an unreal jump that we have here,” Frances Hayes, communicable diseases nurse for Roosevelt County, said. “I don’t even know how to describe it. It is very concerning in a community this size.”

During the year 2020, there were two latent cases and four primary or secondary cases of syphilis in the county.

The figures increased greatly to 31 latent cases and 20 primary or secondary cases for the sexually transmitted disease during 2021.

“It’s quite a bump,” Hayes said. “We’re continuing to see issues [in 2022}.”

Latent cases are persons that have been affected for more than a year, but can still infect others. Tertiary Syphilis may take many years but can lead to brain damage and death.”

People with primary and secondary cases can easily transmit the disease to others.

Hayes stresses that if a pregnant woman has syphilis and doesn’t receive treatment, the baby could die or have serious brain or other life-long health problems.

Untreated syphilis can lead to severe headaches, nausea, vision changes, deafness and dementia.

When a person gets exposed to the sexually transmitted disease, the incubation period is between 3 and 90 days. The average amount is 21 days.

Signs of having the disease include having a chancre at the site of exposure and swelling around the lymph nodes on your body. The sore usually disappears in about three weeks.

An individual then experiences a secondary incubation period in between 4-10 weeks. Hayes notes the person usually feels normal between incubation periods.

The end of the second incubation period can feature rashes, gum lesions, genital warts, swollen armpits and groin.

Testing is available at Indian Health Services, clinics and the hospital.

“The main thing is we want to treat the disease prior to it creating health issues later on.” Hayes said.

Treatment involves antibiotic injections. Once treatment begins, individuals should avoid sexual contact for 7-14 days. If you are treated all of your sexual partners also need to be treated.

Preventive suggestions include abstinence, decreasing the number of sexual partners, knowing your sexual partners well and wearing a condom.

“If you are sexually active with more than one partner, we recommend getting tested every three months. And please get tested at least once if you are sexually active.” Hayes said.

She notes that free condoms are available at the Roosevelt County Health Department from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.