A summary of federal government figures on syphilis and HIV:

A summary of federal government figures on syphilis and HIV:

The rate of primary and secondary syphilis — the most infectious stages of the disease — reached an all-time low in 2000 then started a climb over the next seven years, the most recent time period available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The rate increased 15.2 percent between 2006 and 2007 — from 3.3 cases per 100,000 people to 3.8 cases. The actual number increased from 9,756 to 11,466.

Men who have sex with men represented 65 percent of the primary and secondary syphilis cases in 2007.

More than 1 million people in the U.S. have HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS. One in five is unaware of the infection.

About 56,300 Americans become infected with HIV each year.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention