DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — An increase in sexually transmitted diseases is spreading northward from Cincinnati.

The Dayton Daily News reports that Dayton and Montgomery County public health officials say 70 syphilis cases were reported in 2011, up from 26 the year before. The Hamilton County-Cincinnati area has been reporting a sharp rise in the disease since 2006.

A Montgomery County health official says disease-intervention specialists are finding that many of their new cases originated in Cincinnati.

Jim Gross is health commissioner for public health. He says in Dayton that officials fear the problem is coming up Interstate 75 from the Cincinnati area, which leads Ohio in syphilis cases.

A recent report ranked Hamilton County 12th nationally in number of syphilis cases and third by population.

Copyright Associated Press 2012