Description & Significance of the Prioritized Health Need
In the City of Columbus we are currently facing a Public Health Threat happening as you read this memo. This outbreak poses a great threat to all individuals who are sexually active, especially those whom are infected with HIV. This population of individuals is particularly vulnerable to the Syphilis outbreak that is increasing dramatically in our city.
Factors Contributing to the Issue
In Franklin County we have about 375 per 100,000 people infected with HIV. That is a large number of people that we need to be protected from this infectious outbreak of Syphilis. Those individuals infected with the Syphilis infection are prone to contracting a severe strain of the infection known
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• Increase screening: Refer to screening recommendations table. Persons of negative or unknown HIV status should also be screened for HIV.
• Report Cases: Syphilis is a Class B (1) reportable a condition which is required to be reported by the end of the next business day. Submit reports via the Infectious Disease Reporting System
• Assist with Access to Treatment: If a patient needs assistance accessing treatment, Columbus Public Health offers treatment on a sliding fee scale and no one is turned away for inability to pay. Medication can be delivered to your practice when needed.
All HIV positive patients are recommended screening every 6 months and every 3 months for those classified as high risk.
At a time when we thought we have left the age of infectious disease outbreaks we are now in the mist of two epidemics. Despite all our efforts to put in place preventive measures we are facing one obstacle. There are people who will not be reached with treatment among the population due to lack of access to clinics/wellness centers. The homeless population and the poor are not able to get proper treatment. And this is the root problem of the outbreak; these individuals will be among the people and continuously spread the