• Houston reported over 1,000 syphilis cases last year.

• Houston ranks 2nd in number of infectious syphilis cases among all U.S. cities.

• In 2004, among U.S. cities, Houston ranked 7th in reported number of congenital syphilis cases with a rate of 51 cases per 100,000 live births.

• Recent trends show an increase in infectious syphilis among African American men in Houston.

• More than 30% of persons with new syphilis infections are also co-infected with HIV.

• In 2004, 20 U.S. counties and independent cities accounted for 50% of primary and secondary syphilis cases. Harris County ranked 7th among them.

• The Healthy People 2010 target for domestic transmission of primary and secondary syphilis is 0.2 cases per 100,000. In 2005 Houston reported 11.7 cases per 100,000 (2000 census). Harris County reported a rate of 7.5 cases per 100,000 (2000 Census).

• In Houston/Harris County, the number of primary and secondary syphilis cases has increased every year since 2000. These cases have predominately occurred in men.

• Over the past four years, gay men have accounted for at least 50% of syphilis cases in Houston.