‘Astronomical’ syphilis outbreak hitting Newfoundland homosexuals
English: This photograph shows a close-up view of keratotic lesions on the palms of this patient’s hands due to a secondary syphilitic infection. Syphilis is a complex sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It has often been called "the great imitator" because so many of the signs and symptoms are indistinguishable from those of other diseases. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The health care authority of eastern Newfoundland is warning the public of a significant increase in the numbers of infectious syphilis cases among homosexual men in the most populous region of the province. Eastern Health said that last year there were a total of 26 cases of the sexually transmitted disease - already unusually high - but there have already been 15 cases of syphilis reported in the first three months of 2015. The health authority said that the majority of the syphilis cases have been diagnosed in homosexual men between the ages of 20 and 49....