As cases of sexually transmitted syphilis and gonorrhea continue to rise in Alberta, the province has also seen six cases where pregnant mothers passed congenital syphilis on to their babies in 2017. (Travis McEwan/CBC)To prevent babies from being born with syphilis, AHS has created a dedicated prenatal syphilis nurse position. Currently in Alberta, all pregnant mothers are tested for syphilis early in their pregnancy and before delivery of their baby. Likely to surpass 2016 STI numbersIn April 2016, the chief medical officer of health raised the alarm about sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates in Alberta, saying gonorrhea and syphilis were at "outbreak levels." For more information about STI testing, the province has created the website sexgerms.com.

Source: CBC News November 15, 2017 01:52 UTC