Toronto health officials are “alarmed” at the recent increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) reported in the city, the National Post reports.

“We’re just swamped, both with people seeking testing and people testing positive for things like first HPV [human papillomavirus] diagnosis,” said Jane Greer, counselor and administrator of the downtown Hassle Free Clinic, which specializes in diagnosing and treating STIs.

Greer is particularly concerned with the number of STI coinfections her clinic diagnoses. The most common is HIV-positive people who also contract syphilis.

“They should have eradicated [syphilis], but it’s ongoing,” she said.

The most recent STI numbers from Toronto Public Health for 2008 show that 5,480 people contracted chlamydia, 170 more cases than the same time last year.

According to the article, more than 405 cases of HIV, 1,293 cases of gonorrhea and 200 new cases of infectious syphilis were also reported.