is at a crawl at 4 miles per
hour. Back to you.
>> Justin, thank you so much.
Well, let’s talk a little.
>> With Houston’s only TV
health reporter Haley
Hernandez. So we talk about
this morning.
>> Yes, so this morning we are
focusing on the recent update
from the Houston Health
Department about a rise in
syphilis cases among women in
our area. So joining me this
morning to talk about the rapid
community Outreach response,
STI prevention specialist
Marlene Make Nice. Good
morning, Miss. Make Nice.
Thank you for joining me.
>> Hi, good morning. So you all
are saying there’s a a 10128%
increase. So tell us what
exactly is syphilis who would
be most at risk for this?
>> Sure. Syphilis is a
bacterial as sexually
transmitted infection that can
cause serious health problems.
If left untreated or
undiagnosed. And so their basic
stages of syphilis, we are
really most concerned about
primary and secondary stages
of syphilis. These are the most
infectious stages and people
may have symptoms, but they may
attribute them to other causes
and just ignore that syphilis,
maybe the underlying problem.
So we really hope that sort
of takes heed to awareness
about what we see and the
rising cases and the rising
rates and I seek out
appropriate treatment.
>> Because really people could
ignore it because the symptoms
are a little bit like regular
cold and flu. And therefore,
you might not protect yourself
and could continue passing it
on to others. Is that right?
>> Correct. And in the early
phases, as I there are signs
and symptoms that mirror or
mimic other infections. And so
people may see source that may
or may not be a So they may
a either in the general area or
in other parts of the body.
And just, you know, a tribute
to other things. And so we hope
that if folks are indeed having
unprotected a encounters with
partners who they don’t know
what their sexual health status
is to really say, a primary
medical treatment from their
doctor and just discuss their
risk in and their options for
testing.
>> But tell me why why the
increase now? I mean, we’ve
actually been reporting the
simplest has been on the rise
since 2020, but what’s happened
to that that led to
this increase?
>> Sure. And because it’s an
infection that is so easily
treatable and curable. We were
very, very low levels have for
number of years. And so what
we’re saying is that despite,
you know, screening guidelines
for pregnant where we are
required by law to screen
pregnant women in the first
a semester in the 3rd semester.
We still are saying congenital
cases where moms are passing
along the infection to babies.
So we believe there may be
under as screening under
diagnosing and women of
childbearing age. And we also
believe that storm will add
the tribute in cars to this
new increase is really I think
people have had a bit of, you
know, who at that they to
thinking that some police may
not be a problem anymore.
We don’t talk about it a lot in
the media. And so I think
people have just been lulled
into a sense of complacency.
That’s a plus is not the that
it is. as I said, it’s so
easily treatable and curable.
We worry very, very low levels
in Houston, many years ago.
And now we just want the public
to be aware that these rates
are really, really rising.
so we know that folks need to
be screened even if they
suspect something is going on
or even if they don’t suspect
something may be going on when
that news organizations with
your primary care provider.
>> But how are you going to
mitigate the spread of and how
can people get help? Now?
>> Sure, dad, first and
foremost that they do have a
primary care provider and they
are indeed sexually active,
making sure they have a
conversation about getting
tested and screened for
syphilis because if they are
positive is easily treatable
and for those that are without
a primary care provider.
We certainly in our Houston
Health Department health
Center’s are offering services
to treat and diagnose Asif Ali.
So we are waiving fees
currently for individuals who
are seeking out support in our
clinics. We have 3 locations
throughout the Houston area.
So folks just get to a medical
provider, either threw acid in
their primary care, doc and be
able to get those questions
answered and get the right
tests so they can get the right
treatment and care.
>> Okay. Marley make nice.
I appreciate your input this