§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to combat the rise in syphilis. [47873]
§ Yvette CooperWe have funded a range of national and local interventions aimed at reducing the recent resurgence of syphilis in England. These include an awareness campaign for groups most at risk of syphilis, reviewing and updating of national enhanced laboratory surveillance for syphilis and improving outbreak management skills. We have also funded local interventions in London, Manchester and Brighton, which complement national initiatives, but are more targeted, appropriate and sensitive to local circumstances.
In addition, the Sexual Health and HIV Strategy announced a new mass-media safer-sex campaign to improve awareness of sexually transmitted infections and how to avoid them. This is planned for the autumn.