Return of syphilis as men rely on prostitutes
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2544970,00.html

An increase in single Chinese men visiting prostitutes has
contributed to a resurgence of syphilis in China, a disease that had
been all-but eradicated from the country 30 years ago.
A study published in The Lancet indicates that the number of syphilis
cases in China increased to 6.5 per 100,000 people in 1999 from less
than 0.2 per 100,000 in 1993.

When the Communist Party took power in 1949, China was suffering one
of the biggest syphilis epidemics in history and the Government began
a prolonged campaign to eliminate sexually transmitted diseases.

By 1964, syphilis had become rare and was virtually absent for the
next 20 years. The study linked the disease's re-emergence to
economic reforms and globalisation.

"These changes have led to income gaps and a cultural climate that
favours re-emergence of prostitution due to a substantial majority of
men and a large migrant population of male workers," the report says.

"Changing social practices such as people experimenting with sex at
earlier ages and before marriage, as well as increasing costs of
individual healthcare, also contribute."

The researchers based their report on data collected from China's
national sexually transmitted disease surveillance system. The lead
researcher, Myron Cohen, of the University of North Carolina,
said: "Syphilis has returned to China with a vengeance. The data
demonstrates a syphilis epidemic of such scope and magnitude that it
will require terrific effort to intervene."

Syphilis can be treated with antibiotics. Otherwise it can cause
serious damage to the nervous system, heart or brain and can be
fatal. (Reuters)