Syphilis cases increasing in Denmark, 2000-01

In 2000 and 2001, a total of 54 and 51 cases of syphilis were detected in Denmark, including two cases of congenital syphilis (1). This represents a noticeable increase in comparison with 1999, when 34 cases were detected (2). The figures include both early (duration <2 years) and late cases (table 1). The increase is primarily due to cases in men, among whom there was a substantial shift towards early acquired syphilis in 2001, and it reflects the increase in syphilis that has been seen in several European countries since the late 1990s (3,4). Thirty three per cent (3/9) and 76% (13/17) of notified male cases were seen in men who have sex with men (MSM) in 2000 and 2001.