State health officials are reporting a spike in syphilis in Minnesota, with early cases up 40 percent in 2008 compared with the previous year and a sharp increase being linked to homosexual activity.

Early syphilis -- infection of less than one year--is the most infectious stage of the disease, the health officials said.

Minnesota Department of Health preliminary data show 159 early syphilis cases reported in 2008 compared with 114 in 2007. Of the 159 cases last year, 154 of the patients were males (vs. 112 in 2007) and 131 of those involved men having sex with men (vs. 103 in 2007).

New infections continued to be centered within the Twin Cities metropolitan area. There were 113 cases among whites, 25 among blacks and eight among Hispanics.

"The biggest concern with this latest rise in cases is the increase in cases among young men," said Peter Carr, director of the department's sexually transmitted disease and HIV section. "The biggest jump was seen among those 15 to 24 years of age [from 17 to 37]."

Syphilis can be dangerous if untreated. In the most severe cases, it can lead to blindness, brain damage, heart problems and death. Besides abstinence, the proper use of latex condoms can reduce the risk of spreading or acquiring syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases.

The most common risk factors reported were "meeting partners on the Internet, anonymous sex and no condom use," the Health Department said.

"It is important that those at risk get tested," Carr said. "Syphilis remains a relatively rare disease for most Minnesotans, but not in certain communities."

Dr. Amy Gilbert, medical director at the Family Tree Clinic in St. Paul, said that while "the numbers are small now, the rate of increase raises the alarming possibility of many more people becoming infected in the coming years. Doctors haven't seen syphilis in a long time. We need to raise our awareness and remember to look for it."

Health officials are also concerned about the latest data because about 40 percent of people contracting syphilis are also HIV-positive.

"We know that HIV infection can help acquire or spread syphilis," Carr said. "Plus, there is the greater potential for disease progression and treatment failures when someone with HIV gets syphilis."

For more information, visit www.stopsyphilisnow .org or www.health.state.mn.us/sep.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482