higher than that observed in 2014 (n=95) and 82% greater than the 2010 to 2014 five-year average of 91 notifications per year (Figure 4.1), reflecting a syphilis outbreak Aboriginal people across northern Australia and a continuing increase in syphilis notifications among MSM7,8. The highest peak observed in 2008 (n=174) reflected two concomitant outbreaks one which started in 2006 – among non-Aboriginal MSM residing in the metropolitan region, and the other starting in mid-2008 among Aboriginal heterosexual people in the Pilbara region. Figure 4.1 Number and ASR of infectious syphilis notifications, WA, 2006 to 2015 Distribution by age and sex The highest number and rate of infectious syphilis notifications in 2015 occurred in people aged 20 to 29 years. Among those aged 20 years or older, there were more notifications among males (Figure 4.2). Figure 4.2 Number of infectious syphilis notifications by sex and overall age-specific rate, WA, 2015 Notifications by Aboriginality In 2015, 72% of infectious syphilis notifications occurred in non-Aboriginal people and 28% in Aboriginal people. The Aboriginal to non-Aboriginal rate ratio peaked in 2008 (17.9:1). Since 2010, the Aboriginal to non-Aboriginal rate ratio has Syphilis notifications have been classified been lower than in previous years, into (primary syphilis + reaching a ten-year low of 3.1:1 in 2013 ‘infectious’ secondary syphilis + early latent syphilis before increasing to 9.8:1 in 2015 (Figure [less than two years duration]), 4.3). In 2015, the highest infectious syphilis (more than two years or rate among Aboriginal people was reported unknown duration) and from the Kimberley region and among ‘congenital’ syphilis. people the highest rate was reported from the North metropolitan Infectious syphilis region (177/100,000 and 6/100,000 population respectively), although numbers Trends over time were very small (Appendix Table 26 and Appendix Table 282). The number of infectious syphilis notifications in 2015 (n=166) was 75%
Syphilis notifications have been classified into ‘infectious’ (primary syphilis + secondary syphilis + early latent syphilis [less than two years duration]), (more than two years or unknown duration) and ‘congenital’ syphilis. Infectious syphilis Trends over time The number of infectious syphilis notifications in 2015 (n=166) was 75% higher than that observed in 2014 (n=95) and 82% greater than the 2010 to 2014 five-year average of 91 notifications per year (Figure 4.1), reflecting a syphilis outbreak Aboriginal people across northern Australia and a continuing increase in syphilis notifications among MSM7,8. The highest peak observed in 2008 (n=174) reflected two concomitant outbreaks – one which started in 2006 among non-Aboriginal MSM residing in the metropolitan region, and the other starting in mid-2008 among Aboriginal heterosexual people in the Pilbara region. Figure 4.1 Number and ASR of infectious syphilis notifications, WA, 2006 to 2015 Distribution by age and sex The highest number and rate of infectious syphilis notifications in 2015 occurred in people aged 20 to 29 years. Among those aged 20 years or older, there were more notifications among males (Figure 4.2). Figure 4.2 Number of infectious syphilis notifications by sex and overall age-specific rate, WA, 2015 Notifications by Aboriginality In 2015, 72% of infectious syphilis notifications occurred in non-Aboriginal people and 28% in Aboriginal people. The Aboriginal to non-Aboriginal rate ratio peaked in 2008 (17.9:1). Since 2010, the Aboriginal to non-Aboriginal rate ratio has been lower than in previous years, reaching a ten-year low of 3.1:1 in 2013 before increasing to 9.8:1 in 2015 (Figure 4.3). In 2015, the highest infectious syphilis rate among Aboriginal people was reported from the Kimberley region and among people the highest rate was reported from the North metropolitan region (177/100,000 and 6/100,000 population respectively), although numbers were very small (Appendix Table 26 and Appendix Table 282).
stibbv_2015_annual_report.docx