Switzerland has seen cases of syphilis almost double in the last decade. After being nearly eliminated, the oldest known sexually transmitted disease is making a comeback in many countries. In response to a request from the Swiss daily Blick on Tuesday, the Federal Office of Public Health confirmed that the number of reported cases of syphilis increased from 616 in 2013 to 1,056 in 2022. The same trend can be seen in several other developed countries. In the US, cases surged by 32% between 2020 and 2021 to reach the highest number of reported incidences in 70 years. In 2022, the UK saw syphilis cases reach their highest level since 1948. Considered the oldest sexually transmitted disease, syphilis was thought to be on the verge of being eliminated around 15-20 years ago, according to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. There is no single explanation at the moment for the rise in cases. Some experts suggest that poor investment in public health and lax attitudes...
