NEW YORK, New York (AP) -- The number of syphilis cases in New York City jumped 55 percent in 2002 from the previous year, with the increase concentrated among gay and bisexual men.

After a decade when the number of cases of the disease dropped steadily, the number of syphilis cases began rising in 2001.

"This is a very troubling multi-city outbreak that is almost exclusive among men who have sex with men," Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden said Thursday.

Preliminary figures indicate there were 436 new cases of the disease in New York City in 2002, compared with 282 in 2001. In 2000, there were just 117 new cases of syphilis reported.

Los Angeles, Miami and Houston have also experienced rising rates of syphilis in recent years.

Syphilis appears first as a sore, usually on the genitals, then develops as a rash. It can be cured with penicillin, but left untreated it can damage the heart, eyes, brain and other parts of the body.

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