Within the Australian NNDSS, the more-than-two-years-or-unknown-duration category is a confirmed-case reporting bucket for adult syphilis that does not satisfy the less-than-two-year infectious syphilis definition and encompasses both infections of confirmed older onset and infections of undetermined timing [1]. A confirmed case requires qualifying reactive treponemal serology confirmed by a reactive non-treponemal test or another treponemal test, together with no documented history of adequate previous treatment and no diagnosis of endemic treponemal disease under the stated definition [1]. It is a combined surveillance bucket rather than a distinct organism or transmission route [1].
Disease overview
BacterialSyphilis over two years or unspecified duration
病程超过两年或病程未明的梅毒
Evidence-backed informationEN 1/5 applicable sections · ZH 1/5 applicable sectionsUpdated Sep 3, 2026
This entity is an Australian National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) reporting category rather than a distinct pathogen, combining adult syphilis notifications of more than two years duration with those of unknown duration into a single surveillance bucket [1]. Confirmed cases in this category do not meet the less-than-two-year infectious syphilis definition and must satisfy specific treponemal and non-treponemal serologic criteria with no documented history of adequate previous treatment [1]. Because the bucket aggregates infections with different or uncertain timing, it should not be interpreted as representing incident infectious syphilis [1]. The two NNDSS duration categories should not be merged in trend analyses without an explicit analytic reason, and screening and reporting practice can influence observed patterns [1].
Read the full clinical and epidemiological profile2
- 1Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Department of Health and Aged Care | Australia's notifiable diseases status, 2005: Annual report of the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System - Sexually transmissible diseases [Internet]. cited 3 Sept 2026.Available from: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/cda-cdi3101a12.htm
- A52-A53
- 1A70
Coverage
Reporting countries and regions
Trends by reporting country
Monthly patterns over time
Data access
Page dataset index with source links and update metadata.
Official sourcesAuthority, cadence, notes9
Australia NINDSS
Australia
Australian national notifiable diseases surveillance dashboard.
Australia NINDSS — Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for Australian Capital Territory, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — New South Wales
New South Wales, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for New South Wales, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — Northern Territory
Northern Territory, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for Northern Territory, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — Queensland
Queensland, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for Queensland, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — South Australia
South Australia, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for South Australia, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — Tasmania
Tasmania, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for Tasmania, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — Victoria
Victoria, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for Victoria, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.
Australia NINDSS — Western Australia
Western Australia, Australia
Australian NINDSS monthly state/territory notifications for Western Australia, kept separate from the Australia national aggregate.