The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) has alerted physicians of a syphilis outbreak in 11 southwestern Indiana counties and is asking practitioners there to consider testing for anyone displaying symptoms and patients at high risk of infection, including those who are pregnant.

At least 21 cases of syphilis had been identified as of Nov. 12 and were concentrated in Vanderburgh County (certain areas of Evansville) and neighboring counties, including Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Martin, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, and Warrick. The outbreak is also linked to exposures to other infectious diseases, including HIV and hepatitis A and C, IDOH said.

The Indiana Health Alert Network transmission about the outbreak has additional information about those who could be at risk and is available here. 

IDOH also provided a one-page flyer with photos showing how syphilis presents in patients for clinicians in the affected counties. It can be downloaded here.