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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Department of Health and Social Services is alerting healthcare providers about a syphilis outbreak in the NWT that has been detected in five patients over the past month.

Damien Healy, manager of planning and communications for the department, said they are sending out information to all health service providers in the territory to let them know of the outbreak.

"A notice went out from the chief medical officer to all the nurses in the region letting them know there is an alert," Healy said. "We wanted to let them know we are in an outbreak situation and to take precautions where necessary."

The five cases in the last month set the total at eight for the year, the most the territory has seen in more than a decade.

Healy said they have sent out posters and fact sheets on the sexually-transmitted infection for all service providers to put up in their offices and waiting rooms.

Dr. Andre Corriveau, chief medical officer for the NWT, said it is unfortunate this has happened but it will be a good opportunity to remind people of the dangers associated with unprotected sex.

"Our STI rates are high," he said. "It seems a lot of people aren't taking the advice of postponing sexual activity or to do it safely."

Healy was unable to say where the outbreak is occurring but said it was narrowed to two specific communities in the NWT.

"When the community numbers are so low we don't like saying because sometimes they can almost figure out who it is because they are so small," Healy said.

Health and Social Services has no plans to enter schools to educate teens about syphilis, but Healy does expect the outbreak to be addressed.

"Yk Public Health does have school nurses who work with the schools so it'll probably be on their radar," he said.

Metro Huculak, superintendent for Yk1 school board said they have an administration meeting on Sept. 15 where the outbreak will most likely be discussed.

"We always try to teach our kids good health habits," Huculak said. "With stuff like this, it's more with the high schools and guidance counsellors who will be doing something because they see the kids on a regular basis."

Huculak said the school board has an updated plan to deal with such situations.

"If it has to do with the safety of our kids, it's something we do," he said. "With something like this we try to take direction from the health unit."