
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, December 16, 1994                   TAG: 9412160062
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SYPHILIS OUTBREAK REPORTED IN ROANOKE

In the past five weeks, six cases of syphilis have been reported to the Roanoke Health Department, and health officials fear that many more cases can be expected.

The new cases are not linked to each other, meaning that they are not related to the same carrier or carriers, said Martha Lees, program representative for sexually transmitted disease.

Until the latest cases emerged, the Health Department had counted only six other cases all year. However, Thursday it issued a "communicable disease alert" and asked that anyone who suspects exposure to syphilis to contact the department for testing and treatment. The city Health Department operates two free clinics a week, and there also is a clinic in Vinton, Lees said.

Symptoms of syphilis include genital lesions, rashes, patchy hair loss and swollen lymph nodes, especially the node at the back of the elbow.

"Syphilis is treatable and curable," Lees said. Without treatment, however, blindness, deafness, heart problems and a variety of other ailments can result.

The Health Department also asks that people who have cases to report call the department at 857-7600 instead of notifying staff by mail so that investigations can be started as soon as possible.

by CNB