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Number Of Syphilis Cases Increasing In Pennsylvania

By Lynne Adkins

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Pennsylvania Department of Health has issued a health alert about a rise in syphilis cases.

The number of cases is up in Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery Counties along with several others in the Commonwealth.

Wes Culp, a spokesman for the State Department of Health, says it only affects certain groups:

"We have seen an upward trend of syphilis in younger females which is why we had a special emphasis on women who might be pregnant. It's especially important for them and their health care professionals to take the correct steps to make sure their child is healthy."

Culp explains the alerts are sent out to those who can test someone who may be at risk:

"What we hope is that they take this information and just know that there has been a shift, so if they need any assistance from us or any guidance to contact us and we can also provide them with additional resources, say they were running low on penicillin."

Culp says there's no definitive reason for the rise in cases.

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