<s>[INST] Two questions: 1) Can syphilis be transferred when a person with syphilitic chancres on his fingers prepares food for others? 2) If transfer of syphilis requires direct contact with a chancre, how can syphilis still be passed to another person after the signs of both stage one (chancre) and stage two (rash) have subsided? [/INST] Hi sir...your question is two part .the 1st part answer is no syphilis can't be transmitted through preparing food as it is transmitted mainly by contact with mucous membrane (mainly sexual contact)...so you need not worry about that.......2nd part : syphilis has four stages primary and secondary and latent and tertiary...primary and secondary stages are most infectious stage as bacteria multiplications and increased number of bacteria will be transmitted early by contact....latent stage bacteria decreased and not multiply, and it may be infectious in early latent and after that it will not be infectious ...in the tertiary stage although severe complication but is not infectious....thank you for your interest about that....take care of your health </s>