City fears sex disease epidemic

Leeds General Infirmary has recorded increased cases

Sexual health advisers say Leeds could be on the verge of a major outbreak of the sexually-transmitted disease syphillis.

There has been a record number of cases of the disease so far this year.

The city has seen more cases in six months than for the whole of the Nortrhern and Yorkshire health regions in the previous 12 months.

The resurgence of the virus caused growing concern across the country.

'Forgotten disease'

A spokesman for the sexual health organisation Yorkshire Mesmac told BBC News Online: "Potentially we are at the very beginning of a large epidemic.

"In recent outbreaks gay men have been affected, and one of the problems is we have forgotten about it (the disease)."

The latest figures show eight news cases in Leeds in six months.

High risk

That compares with a total of seven cases for the whole of the Northern and Yorkshire regions last year.

In the five years between 1996-2001 there has been an increase of 1,610 per cent in the cases of syphillis in high risk groups nationally.

The concern in Leeds came after sexual health workers analysed data from the genito-urinary clinic at Leeds General Infirmary.

For confidential advice on sexual health contact Yorkshire Mesmac on 0113 244 4209.