ABSTRACT
Globally, the World Health Organization reported 12 million new cases of syphilis among adults in 1999.1 Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa reported 4 million new cases each, Latin America and the Caribbean 3 million cases. North America, Western Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and the East Asia and Pacific regions all reported between 100,000 and 370,000 new cases of syphilis. The lowest incidence was seen in Australia and New Zealand - only 10,000 new cases of syphilis.
