An unabated outbreak of syphilis in Alberta has the provincial government admitting it has a problem. In a recent report, Alberta Health and Wellness stressed there is an “urgent need” to reduce syphilis rates in all segments of the population, and university students are considered a risk group.

Dr. André Corriveau, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, who created the report, said he hopes it will mobilize the province to address the outbreak.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that can be difficult to detect because people often don’t experience symptoms in the early stages of infection. However, symptom-free people can still spread the disease through sexual contact. Though doctors can easily treat the disease with penicillin, untreated syphilis can damage the heart, brain, blood vessels and bones, ultimately resulting in death.

“No segments of the population are spared from contracting syphilis,” the report warns. People who have multiple sexual partners, men who have sex with men, sex trade workers and drug users are at highest risk, but the disease is also being found in university students, professionals and young children.

“There seems to have been a relaxation of people’s concerns about this,” Corriveau said.

He recommends anyone who suspects they may have syphilis should get tested immediately. Students can get tested through campus health centres or local clinics.