Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv
Photo: Shaul Golan
Mini-outbreak of HIV in Tel Aviv
Doctors at Sourasky Medical Center have discovered at least 10 new cases of concurrent HIV and syphillis infection, encourage safe sex practices
At least 10 Israeli youths were infected with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) and syphilis in the past two months, as the result of a similar source.
The center for AIDS-related medicine at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center recently discovered 10 new HIV carriers since January, a higher frequency than the normal 5 or 6 new carriers in Israel during an average month. The higher presence of the virus, as well as the concurrent infection of syphilis caught the doctors' attention.
The Ministry of Health is conducting an epidemiological investigation in an attempt to track down the exact source of the outbreak. Currently one of two possibilities exists – either all 10 were infected by the same partner or the 10 participated in a group orgy.
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"We noticed that in the months of December and January we had more new patients than normal. Only (Tuesday) two more were added," said Dr. Dan Turner, the director of Sourasky's AIDS center and a specialist in infectious diseases. "We noticed that there was a mini-outbreak in the Tel Aviv area."
"We alerted the Ministry of Health, requesting they act on the information. The cases are related by behavior. Anyone having unprotected sex is exposed. People are having unprotected sex with people they don't know. The results indicate a high incidence of unprotected sex," he added.
The patients, all men, arrived at Sourasky separately, despite evidence that their cases are related.
According to AIDS-related research, people infected with syphilis tend to be more susceptible to contracting AIDS. But even without the double infection, rates of HIV appear to be increasing in 2009, as seen by data from other hospitals.
"Tragically, the data provided by other AIDS-related medical centers in Israel is not comforting," said head of the Israel AIDS Task Force Yonatan Karni.
"Since the beginning of 2009 we have seen a rise in the rate of new HIV infection, as compared to last year. At this time, nothing is projected regarding the annual rate, but it is a worrying trend," he said.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that an increase in HIV-AIDS in homosexual men in Israel has risen since 2007.
"There is an increase in the absolute number of AIDS carriers in the homosexual community," said Dr. Daniel Shemtov, the director of the department of tuberculosis and AIDS at the Ministry of Health. "People in that community need to deal with this issue… It's important for people to protect themselves and others."
The ministry said it had undertaken collaboration with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender organizations, in order to increase AIDS awareness in the LGBT community.
Yoav Zeitun contributed to this report
