A new study suggests syphilis cases in Alberta fell sharply after the expansion of rapid testing and same-day treatment, reversing years of steep increases and rising concern about congenital transmission.
Co-led by researchers from St. Michael’s Hospital, the University of Alberta, and Indigenous Services Canada, the study examined the period after Alberta declared a syphilis outbreak in July 2019, when cases surged—particularly among Indigenous communities. Reported cases climbed from 161 in 2014 to 2,330 in 2019, and between 2015 and March 2024 there were 350 cases of congenital syphilis, resulting in 61 stillbirths.
To curb transmission, Dr. Ameeta Singh and her team introduced rapid, point-of-care testing that enables testing and treatment in a single visit, often delivered by mobile health teams in community and non-traditional settings. Using interrupted time-series analysis, researchers found monthly positivity rates fell 15% after the program launched in Edmonton in August 2020, deepening to a 25% decline after it expanded province-wide in March 2022.
“Infectious syphilis is a public health emergency in Canada, hitting communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba the hardest,” said Dr. Rourke, director of REACH Nexus at the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital (Unity Health Toronto). “This data show that we can make a real-world impact by reaching more people to test, diagnose, and create crucial linkages to care to help end this health crisis.
Read more at Unity Health Toronto
