Syphilis is a complex sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum (spp. pallidum). The initial
stage (primary syphilis) is characterized by a highly infectious painless open sore, called a chancre, at the site of infection.
Chancres occur mainly on the external genitals, vagina, anus, or in the rectum. Syphilis is passed from person to person through
direct contact with the chancre. Sexual transmission can also occur during the secondary stage of syphilis. An infant can
acquire syphilis through the placenta if the mother is infected. In later stages of the disease, the bacteria move throughout
the body, damaging many organs over time. The open nature of the syphilitic sores makes it easier to acquire HIV, if exposed,
or to transmit the virus, if infected. Public health intervention and education measures are crucial in eliminating syphilis.
Primary and Secondary Syphilis Rates per 100,000 by Race and Ethnicity, Utah, 2013
Rates were calculated by dividing the number of cases within a race/ethnicity group by the population in that group and multiplying
Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology.
Population Estimates by Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin for Counties in Utah, U.S. Bureau of the Census, IBIS Version
Rate of newly reported cases of primary and secondary syphilis by date of diagnosis per 100,000 population.
How We Calculated the Rates
Number of newly reported cases of primary and secondary syphilis by date of diagnosis.
Utah's total population.
Page Content Updated On 10/30/2014,
Published on 12/01/2014
Bureau of Epidemiology, Division of Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, Utah Department of Health,
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2104, Telephone: 801-538-6191, Fax: (801) 538-9923, Website: http://health.utah.gov/epi/, Email:
The information provided above is from the Utah Department of Health's Center for
Health Data IBIS-PH web site (http://ibis.health.utah.gov). The information published
on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation:
Fri, 30 January 2015 16:13:58
from Utah Department of
Health, Center for Health Data, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health Web