Oklahoma suffers largest syphilis outbreak in recent history

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – State health officials say Oklahoma County is in the midst of the largest syphilis outbreak in recent state history.
The Oklahoman  reports that 80 residents among the ages of 14 and 47 have been infected over the past few months.
The state Health Department’s manager of HIV and STD services, Kristen Eberly, says this is the largest number of cases connecting to the same infection she’s seen in her 13 years with the department.
The outbreak comes as Oklahoma is also seeing a rising number of residents dying from heroine and methamphetamine overdose.
Health officials say drug abuse is one of the main contributing factors for the syphilis outbreak.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that is transmitted by direct contact with a syphilitic sore, known as a chancre.