A sexual health specialist says syphilis has reached epidemic proportions in north-west Queensland.
Queensland Health has received 146 syphilis notifications in the past 18 months.
Dr Arun Menon of Mount Isa is worried that is only a fraction of the total.
He there have been three cases of congenital syphilis and two foetal deaths.
''What we need to do is make syphilis screening a routine part of everyday work,'' Dr Menon said.
