Syphilis Risk In Europe

UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 29 - PASS has now confirmed the original three cases of syphilis detected in Europe. While we have been informed that those who originally tested positive have worked in Europe over the past several months, we have not yet seen evidence of additional transmission or an increase in positive tests in either Europe or the US.

We do know that those who contract syphilis can continue to test positive for up to a year even after they have been treated and they are no longer infectious. Unfortunately, we have been unable to speak directly with those affected to know if this was the case, or if additional cases might surface. We continue to have little verifiable information on the potential risk for those working in Europe or working with performers who have recently worked in Europe. 

Without a meaningful way to effectively monitor production or engage with the testing we can not provide any reasonably informed guidance, and without the necessary relationships in Europe, PASS does not have the knowledge or authority to effectively recommend or call for a production hold.

We recommend that those working in Europe retest for syphilis and require their potential partners do the same. Syphilis is highly treatable, particularly the earlier it is caught. SNAP has recently put together a fact sheet on syphilis that may be of help to those attempting to gauge risk.

While US-based, PASS is working to strengthen relationships with producers, labs and industry groups in Europe — including FSC Europe — to improve communication and build information networks for an increasingly global industry.

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INITIAL POST, SEPTEMBER 22 - PASS has been informed of multiple positive syphilis tests among performers working in Europe, and the potential for many more exposures, including among US-based performers. Testing is not standardized in Europe, so we do not yet know the full extent of the exposures or additional cases.  

We are working with our partners in both Europe and the US, to assess the potential risk to performers, both there and here, and will keep the community informed as we learn more. 

PASS does not officially operate in Europe, and has limited access to European studios and labs. As such, we do not have the relationships necessary to call for or effectively manage a production hold. However, individual performers, creators and studios may want to consider halting production on their own until the extent of the risk is known.