China's most populous province is witnessing a rapid growth in syphilis with more than 43,000 new cases so far this year, Southern Metropolis Daily reported Monday.

Guangdong province registered an increase in the sexually transmitted disease for the eighth consecutive year with 43, 116 people diagnosed as contracting it between January to October this year.

The figure almost matches the total number of cases reported last year, which was more than 45,000, the paper said.

The highly infectious disease has been increasing in Guangdong since 2003, with a growth of 15 to 20 percent each year, it said.

"Sex workers and male homosexuals are the major groups contracting syphilis," Yang Bin, director of the Guangdong Prevention Center for Sexually Transmitted Disease told the paper.

About 25 to 30 percent of low-end sex workers in the province were found to be infected with syphilis, he said.

"Syphilis is a curable disease as long as it is found early, but it could lie dormant in body without symptoms and delay treatment," Yang said.

The Guangdong Prevention Center for Sexually Transmitted Disease provides a free outpatient service for syphilis checks every week.

"The disease could be cured with no more than 100 yuan ($15) if it's found in time," Yang added.