Milwaukee: Major Syphilis, HIV Outbreak Among Schoolkids

The Milwaukee Health Department confirms an increase in new cases of HIV and syphilis in 2017. Among those infected are teenage children and infants.

In a period of 12 months, a total of 125 new cases of HIV and syphilis were recorded in the city that has a population of almost 600,000.

"This is an epidemic people are not talking about enough, and it leads to people taking unnecessary risks," says Melissa Ugland, a public health consultant working local nonprofit organizations focusing on public health.

The city health department informed the district of the alarming increase in sexually transmitted infections among young people aged 15 to 24. The high rate of infection is categorized as a cluster outbreak or a group or cluster of people discovered either living with HIV or other STDs by the AIDS Resource Center.

...The confirmation of rising STI cases is followed by a commuter ad campaign with the Milwaukee City Transport Service. The campaign aims to raise awareness about sexually transmitted diseases.