NL Health Services is offering a walk-in testing clinic in response to an outbreak of syphilis in the central Labrador region.

Back in September, the health authority issued an advisory about an outbreak in the Labrador-Grenfell Health Zone.

Cases of syphilis, a serious sexually-transmitted disease, have been on the rise across Canada and around the world.

While initial symptoms may subside, the bacteria remains in the body and if left untreated, syphilis can lead to serious and irreversible damage to the brain, heart and skin and can be fatal.

The only way to know whether you have contracted the disease is to get tested.

A walk-in testing clinic will be set up on Saturday, February 15th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the outpatient department of the hospital in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.