OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — State health officials say a syphilis outbreak among teenagers includes four new cases, three of which have been linked to teen group sex parties.
The outbreak was reported three weeks ago after 10 teen cases were confirmed within a month. Officials now believe 13 cases this year are related.
Jan Fox is chief of the sexually transmitted disease services division of the state Health Department. Fox says the cases are among males and females ages 14 to 20 in multiple counties in central Oklahoma.
She says it's unclear whether the outbreak is contained because more teens may have been exposed and don't know it because they don't have symptoms.
Syphilis can be cured if it is caught early.
Signs include genital lesions, rough, red, or reddish brown spots on palms and soles, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes and fatigue.
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Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com
