Syphilis rates in Thunder Bay nearly double provincial average
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) has launched a syphilis awareness campaign as rates are skyrocketing across the region.
In 2024, the TBDHU reported an average of 33.6 cases per 100,000 people in Thunder Bay. The provincial rate is 18.0.
The syphilis awareness campaign will run on print posters in health care provider offices and bars, bus ads, and digital ads on Instagram, Snapchat, Spotify, YouTube, and Facebook. Most syphilis cases have been reported between the ages of 20-49, so the ads will target sexually active members of that demographic. The core mantra is “get facts, get tested and get treated.”
“Syphilis isn’t a disease of the past, it affects people in our district today,” said Kandace Belanger, TBDHU Manager of Sexual Health. “Unless it is caught and treated appropriately, the impacts can last a lifetime. Fortunately, anyone can reduce their risk of syphilis through education, testing, and treatment.”
Symptoms of syphilis can be mild and easy to overlook. If left untreated, syphilis can cause serious health problems, potentially affecting the brain, heart, bones, and blood vessels, and may even be life-threatening.
Treatment of syphilis can be simple. When caught early, a single penicillin shot can cure the disease. For those who caught it later, three or more penicillin shots at weekly intervals are required.
The TBDHU encourages everyone who is sexually active to talk to their primary care provider about testing for syphilis. Testing is also available to those without immediate access to primary care by scheduling an appointment at the TBDHU Sexual Health Clinic on 999 Balmoral Street.
Learn more about syphilis infection, testing and treatment at GetTestedTbay.ca.
