Syphilis Outbreaks

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (14:47): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing on the subject of syphilis outbreaks.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: I refer to recent reports that a baby born in Port Augusta last year was the first child to be born in South Australia with congenital syphilis in 18 years. I also refer to reports yesterday that a syphilis outbreak has been declared in Adelaide, in addition to parts of regional South Australia. My three questions to the minister are:

1. What action has the government taken to reduce rates of syphilis and congenital syphilis diagnoses, particularly in regional South Australia?

2. Why has the government cut funding to HIV and STI prevention programs in this state budget at a time of ongoing and increasing syphilis outbreaks in our state?

3. Will the government commit to increasing funding for sex education programs, particularly in regional areas, now that the minster is aware of these outbreaks?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:48): The syphilis outbreak is well-established, in a sense. I think it is about eight years since the outbreak first started. I think it is 18 months since it first entered South Australia and, more recently, Adelaide. We are contacting all GPs and medical officers to make them aware of the small but sustained increase in syphilis cases in metropolitan Adelaide over the past six months. Adelaide is now included in the syphilis outbreak, which has affected the Far North and Eyre and western regions of South Australia.

All doctors are advised to offer syphilis testing to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to assist in controlling the outbreak. Locating, testing and treating the partners of infectious people is also an important part in controlling syphilis. For its part, the state government is working with the commonwealth as part of the Multijurisdictional Syphilis Outbreak Working Group to monitor the outbreak and coordinate the public response.

I do have a statement that was issued by the Communicable Disease Control Branch on 14 November and it gives information particularly for medical practitioners in the outbreak areas. Some of the work that is being done at the state level has included a syphilis register, which helps us to follow up the care needs of people with syphilis.

We are working actively at the local level with the Aboriginal Health Council, and I think it is important to be mindful that the government will always stand alert to ensure that programs are nimble enough to respond to emerging risks. I can assure you that the Communicable Disease Control Branch of SA Health will be alert to make sure that resources are deployed to minimise the outbreak.