Florida ranks 1st among 50 states for number of new HIV infections.

After being nearly eradicated around the year 2000, Syphilis and other STDs have experienced a huge spike in Jacksonville, Florida and across the nation.

In 2012, only 151 people in Duval County became infected with syphilis, compared to 394 people in 2016, according to the state’s preliminary count.

Some health experts blame the skyrocketing amount of STD cases on technology.

“We’re seeing an increased usage of dating apps, Facebook, Tinder, Grindr, Adam4Adam,” said Lakisha Cohen, Northwest Florida Health Department’s STD Program Manager. “It’s become easier for people to find someone to have sex with.”

Many people won’t even realize they’ve become infected with syphilis because the disease often presents with little to no symptoms. Men might notice a sore at the site of the infection, and both Men and Women might see rashes on their hands and feet, but these symptoms don’t always appear and when they do, can be dismissed as other things. Left untreated, syphilis will eventually cause permanent bodily harm and impairement, such as blindness, cognitive difficulties, and even death.

But the most tragic thing is that Syphilis has an easy cure — a course of antibiotics. The same goes with many other STDs, and those that can’t be cured can be treated. But the only way to know for sure that you have an STD is to get tested.

Private Testing Center strives to offer affordable, same-day testing that’s convenient and discreet in Jacksonville, FL and across the United States. We have 2,000 testing locations nationwide, including 20 in and around the Jacksonville area.

You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to find the answers you need. Schedule a test with us today, you won’t regret knowing the truth.