I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
The Kalamazoo County Health Department is in the midst of fighting an outbreak of syphilis. According to county reports, the county reports seven cases of syphilis in 2010. While that doesn’t sound like much, it is the highest number since at least 2001.
Michelle Thorne, clinical services director for the Kalamazoo County Health Department, says that while preliminary totals to date are not available, “I would say we are pretty close to what our total count for 2010 was.”
On March 11, the department sent a health advisory to hospitals, doctors, women’s clinics and health departments in the region.
“Kalamazoo County is currently experiencing an increase in early syphilis cases,” the advisory said. It continued:
The current increase in syphilis cases have been identified as primary cases. Primary syphilis is characterized by a painless chancre. Secondary syphilis is characterized by a skin rash and mucous membrane lesions and may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms. Syphilis can be transmitted to others during these stages. Please read the included fact sheet for more information.
KCHCS is taking action to stop the progression of syphilis. We are working with Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) to conduct case investigations along with contact tracing, testing, and treatment. Screening of high-risk groups that may be associated with the primary cases of syphilis include individuals with multiple sex partners; men who have sex with men; men who have sex with men and are co-infected with HIV; and individuals that trade sex for drugs or money. In addition, staff will be working to distribute information regarding syphilis and its prevention to those at risk as well as the general public.
“Together, we can stop this outbreak,” the advisory concludes, noting a contact in the department.
Syphilis has been seeing regular appearances across the state after years of being at nearly zero cases. Genessee county saw the largest outbreak in 2008. That outbreak was in heterosexuals. Ingham and Kent counties saw outbreaks in 2009, and in 2010, Oakland county saw an outbreak. Ingham, Kent and Oakland saw their outbreaks in the men who have sex with men communities. Many of the cases in those counties were also co-infected with HIV, which may also be the case in Kalamazoo county.
Syphilis occurs in three distinct phases. First stage syphilis is identified by a painless sore. Second stage by a rash, usually on the hands and feet, and the third stage is when the bacteria invades organs of the body, including the brain. First and second stage syphilis are considered contagious.
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