CDC Identifies Single Source of Sexually Transmitted Eye Syphilis Cases
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified a "cluster" of ocular syphilis cases in Michigan, with five women reporting the infection after having a common male sex partner. The women, aged 40 to 60, experienced symptoms such as blurred vision, headache, and genital sores. Ocular syphilis is rare but can cause permanent damage and blindness. Investigations revealed that the man had been treated for a different infection but had not been tested for syphilis. The CDC believes an unidentified strain of the infection was a risk factor for the systemic manifestations of syphilis in the women. The number of sexually transmitted infections, including syphilis, has been increasing in recent years.