Syphilis cases among Taiwan youth up 9%, CDC plans screening expansion

Taipei, Dec. 30 (CNA) Taiwan saw declines in HIV and gonorrhea cases this year, but syphilis infections rose, with the sharpest increase among people aged 15-24, the country's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said at a press conference on Tuesday.

From January to November, syphilis cases among those aged 15-24 increased 9 percent year-on-year, prompting the CDC to expand free screening services for young people starting next year.

CDC spokesperson Lin Ming-cheng (林明誠) said at the press conference that the number of medical institutions offering free rapid syphilis testing to people aged 24 and under will be increased from 18 to 79 in 2026, with capacity for about 10,000 screenings.

To strengthen prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the CDC launched an anonymous STI consultation service on July 1, providing one-on-one confidential counseling at 14 hospitals nationwide. Eligible people aged 24 and under, including students, can also receive free rapid syphilis testing.

Between July and November, the anonymous consultation service recorded 1,455 visits, mostly involving questions about STI knowledge, testing, symptoms and treatment, CDC data showed.

As of Nov. 30, Taiwan recorded 810 new HIV cases and 5,873 gonorrhea cases this year, down 12 percent and 17 percent, respectively, from the same period last year.

In contrast, syphilis cases rose 2 percent to 9,072 nationwide. Among those aged 15-24, new cases increased from 1,587 to 1,722 over the same period, marking a 9 percent rise, the CDC said.