The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 27,814 cases of syphilis in 2016, a 17.6% increase since 2015. Syphilis can invade the nervous system at any stage of infection, and causes a wide range of symptoms, including headache, altered behavior, coordinating muscle movements, paralysis, sensory deficits, and dementia. Syphilis also increases the chance of acquiring HIV, and for pregnant women, syphilis can be transmitted to her unborn baby. 2016 data showed a 27.6% increase in congenital syphilis, compared to 2015 data at the national level. The City of Milwaukee recently made national news regarding an investigation conducted by public health staff in 2017. Of the 127 people identified in this social network, 76 had positive tests for syphilis and/or HIV. Please join Dr. Paul Hunter for this timely webinar as we discuss how to prevent this treatable STD in the communities we serve.
Dr. Paul Hunter joined the faculty of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health as an Assistant Professor on August 1, 2009. He teaches residents, medical students, and pre-meds. As Associate Medical Director for the City of Milwaukee Health Department, he provides medical consultation for the public health nursing staff regarding immunizations, sexually transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis. He is married to a general internist who does home visits. They have 3 children. Dr. Hunter enjoys watching birds and coordinates birding events at Lake Park in Milwaukee.