[Table of Contents]

Volume: 25S1 - May 1999

Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Canada: 1996 Surveillance Report
(with Preliminary 1997 Data)

Syphilis

Since 1993, the Division of STD Prevention and Control has been reporting syphilis cases according to their infectiousness. "Infectious Syphilis" now comprises Early Symptomatic (primary and secondary) syphilis and Early Latent syphilis. Infectious syphilis incidence rates in 1996 indicate that, in Canada, this STD is on the periphery of elimination. The goal for the year 2000 is to maintain disease rates for infectious syphilis below 0.5 per 100,000 and to prevent all cases of endemic congenital syphilis⁽⁷⁾. In 1996, 123 cases of infectious syphilis were reported to LCDC (0.4 per 100,000), and preliminary data for 1997 indicate that this rate has remained the same (Figure 9, Appendices 3.1 and 3.2).

In contrast to previous years, syphilis rates are highest among both males and females in the 25-29 year old age group (Figure 10), although the number is so low that it is impossible to draw from this any significant conclusions. The provincial/ territorial distribution of infectious syphilis is shown in Figure 11.

Appendix 3.3 includes early symptomatic (primary and secondary) syphilis data reported from 1980 to 1997 using the previous method of categorization according to clinical manifestation.

FIGURE 9 Reported Syphilis¹ Rates² in Canada, 1980 to 1997³

¹ Syphilis, before 1985, was classified as all forms of syphilis. Later, the clinical manifestation method of classification categorized the disease into early symptomatic (primary and secondary syphilis) and other syphilis (early latent, late latent and tertiary). Since 1993, the classification of syphilis has been revised to reflect the infectivity of the stages of syphilis. Infectious syphilis - reported as such since 1993 - includes early symptomatic syphilis (primary and secondary) and early latent syphilis. Other (non-infectious) syphilis includes late latent and tertiary syphilis.
² Rate per 100,000 population. Population estimates provided by Statistics Canada.
³ 1997 rates are considered preliminary and are expected to change.

Source: Health Canada, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Bureau of Infectious Diseases. © 1999

FIGURE 10 Reported Infectious Syphilis¹ Rates² in Canada by Age and Sex, 1996

¹ Syphilis, before 1985, was classified as all forms of syphilis. Later, the clinical manifestation method of classification categorized the disease into early symptomatic (primary and secondary syphilis) and other syphilis (early latent, late latent and tertiary). Since 1993, the classification of syphilis has been revised to reflect the infectivity of the stages of syphilis. Infectious syphilis - reported as such since 1993 - includes early symptomatic syphilis (primary and secondary) and early latent syphilis. Other (non-infectious) syphilis includes late latent and tertiary syphilis.
² Rate per 100,000 population. Population estimates provided by Statistics Canada.

Source: Health Canada, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Bureau of Infectious Diseases. © 1999

FIGURE 11 Reported Infectious Syphilis¹ Rates² in Canada by Province/Territory and Sex, 1996

¹ Syphilis, before 1985, was classified as all forms of syphilis. Later, the clinical manifestation method of classification categorized the disease into early symptomatic (primary and secondary syphilis) and other syphilis (early latent, late latent and tertiary). Since 1993, the classification of syphilis has been revised to reflect the infectivity of the stages of syphilis. Infectious syphilis - reported as such since 1993 - includes early symptomatic syphilis (primary and secondary) and early latent syphilis. Other (non- infectious) syphilis includes late latent and tertiary syphilis.
² Rate per 100,000 population. Population estimates provided by Statistics Canada.

Source: Health Canada, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Bureau of Infectious Diseases. © 1999

Congenital syphilis

As Appendix 3.4 indicates, the congenital syphilis rates in Canada are very low: in 1996 and 1997 the incidence rates were 0.3 and 0.6 per 100,000 respectively, representing only one reported case in 1996 and two in 1997.

[Previous] [Table of Contents] [Next]