Nine people in Tompkins County, including several Cornell students, faculty and staff, have been diagnosed with syphilis in the past year, compared with a typical rate of one case a year, Gannett Health Services and the Tompkins County Health Department report.

Gannett is offering free testing in an effort to prevent further transmission and ensure appropriate treatment for those already exposed.

"This increase reflects a troubling national trend in the spread of syphilis, a highly contagious, yet treatable, disease," said Janet Corson-Rikert, M.D., executive director of Gannett. "Further heightening local concern, some of the individuals recently diagnosed with syphilis have been found to be co-infected with HIV."

She noted, "A number of cases have involved men who have had multiple sexual partners, both male and female."

As required by state law, country health department specialists have talked with infected individuals to trace their sexual partners, who may also have been exposed. Those identified to date have been referred for testing and treatment.

"Unfortunately, contact tracing has been incomplete due to patterns of anonymous and Internet-facilitated sexual encounters," said Corson-Rikert.

For more information:

Who should get tested?

Testing in Ithaca