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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Though new cases of syphilis have dropped to around five a month since February, NWT's chief medical health officer warns the number of cases could spike again.

"In 2008 in May we had two cases of syphilis, in August we had six, then in September it went back up to 10," said Dr. Kami Kandola, the acting chief medical health officer for the NWT.

"So it seems the numbers are low right now but it doesn't mean that they won't flare up. It's too early to tell."

Health and Social Services reported 53 cases in the NWT last year. There are 28 cases reported this year so far.

She said more than 500 people a month are being tested for syphilis, but as long as the sexually-transmitted infection is still in the community, people are at risk. If one person has the infection and engages in unprotected sex with others, it can start spreading again.

Syphilis is predominantly spread through vaginal, oral and anal sex. If left untreated, it can cause, among other things, blindness, deafness, paralysis, and damage to the liver, heart, brain, and death.

Without treatment, about one-third of the people infected will develop serious complications later in life.

It is treated with penicillin shots or other antibiotics in its early stages to prevent serious complications and the spread of the disease.

Treatment can cure syphilis, but cannot reverse any damage done to internal organs.

"It's really in everyone's best interest if they get tested for syphilis, and if they test positive that they get treated for syphilis, and they also name their contacts so those people can get tested and treated too, if they're positive."

Kandola said people with the infection can go up to a year without showing symptoms.

"If you don't treat syphilis by then, it's not as infectious but it could cause damage to the person themselves ... at that stage, that damage is irreversible."

Kandola said the treatment, though, will get rid of the disease.

"You want to be one step ahead of syphilis. Engaging in one high-risk behaviour puts you back at risk again."