Health authorities thought they had consigned syphilis to the history books but the disease is back, and in epidemic proportions.
In 2001, there was just one case of syphilis recorded in Victoria compared with the 1,000 cases seen in the past two years.
Nationally, the rise has been more than seven-fold since 2003, with the number of infections rising from 164 to 1,166 in 2008.
The condition linked to historical figures including Adolf Hitler, Vincent Van Gogh and Oscar Wilde is now being spread almost exclusively by men who have sex with other men.
Drag Queen Kaye Sera was on hand at the launch of a new on-the-spot test in Melbourne on Thursday to draw attention to the outbreak.
The test, delivered by finger prick, gives results within 15 minutes and Ms Sera learned she did not have syphilis.
"Clearly it is a peace of mind issue," Ms Sera said.
"I think getting tested and having access to treatments is just part of being civilised."
Clinical Associate Professor Marcus Chen said the current outbreak was a big concern to health authorities.
"You need only look at the numbers of cases appearing each year and the relentless rise, year on year, to describe it as an epidemic," Dr Chen said.
He added most people thought the disease was a long-gone relic, and that the problem had slipped under the radar.
"Syphilis really wasn't an issue for a number of years, until the early 2000s when it emerged among men who have sex with men," Dr Chen said.
"For a lot of people it has an old historical feel to it so they don't think it is a current problem."
In fact, you have to stretch back 50 years to find similar numbers of infections to those occurring currently.
"These numbers haven't been as high as that for quite a long time. Probably since the 1950s," Dr Chen said, adding researchers were unsure as what sparked the new outbreak.
"An increase in unprotected anal sex may be a factor.
"It is part of an international phenomenon ... What we are seeing here is part of an international phenomenon."
The symptoms of syphilis change depending on what stage the disease is at in the body, and once diagnosed the treatment is a simple course of antibiotics.
Early signs of syphilis can be an ulcer or painless lump on the genitals, anus or throat.
If not treated the disease progresses to secondary syphilis, which displays as a rash covering most of the body.
The final stage of syphilis appears symptomless, but can cause neurological problems including dementia, infertility in women and cardiovascular disease.
People visiting Melbourne's Midsumma gay and lesbian festival, which begins on Sunday, can get tested for syphilis for free.
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