An alarming trend has shown that rates of syphilis at Victoria University have risen drastically in recent months.
Salient was told that one doctor alone at the Student Health Centre had diagnosed five cases this year.
This sexually-transmitted disease mostly exists in the developing world, and it is rare in New Zealand. However, rates have been on the rise.
Medical Director of the Student Health Service Garry Brown states “universal adoption of recommended safe sex practices is the best step people can take to protect themselves”.
The chances of contracting syphilis can be slightly reduced by using a condom to separate the infected and protected areas, but the main method is to be in a monogamous relationship with someone who has already been tested.
Syphilis can be treated with injected or intravenous penicillin. If left untreated, it can be fatal.