There may be an end to the HIV outbreak declared in the North Battleford area last year, but the syphilis outbreak declared for that community and around Prince Albert continues.

Medical Health Officer for the northwest, Dr. Mandiangu NSungu, says the last round of testing from the contact tracing related to the HIV cases happened in April.

To declare the outbreak over, 2 separate tests 3 months apart would have to both have negative results.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority released an alert 2 years ago that syphilis cases were rising across the province, then in June of last year both an HIV and syphilis outbreak were declared in North Battleford followed in December by an outbreak declared in the Prince Albert area.

The SHA says in the first 3 months of this year, there were 158 cases of syphilis compared to 58 in the same time period last year and is the result of ongoing outbreaks in the northwest and northeast and in the cities of Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert.

The SHA’s public health alert from last December says people who have syphilis or other sexually transmitted infections may not have symptoms, so the best way to know is to get tested, and if you are sexually active, get tested for sexually transmitted infections.

The tests are free and confidential.

You can make an appointment with your doctor or nurse practitioner , visit a walk-in clinic or sexual health clinic, contact a Public Health Office or call the 811 HealthLine.

(CJWW)