Heard syphilis was acquired by europeans in the new world, am i correct?

Yes: The presumption is that it was brought back to europe by columbus and his crew. The plague of the late 15th and early 16th centuries, which wiped out one-half the population of europe, was said to have been syphilis.

Agree w Dr. Raff: Although most health scourges were brought from europe to the new world, syphilis is unique in that it was brought by explorers from native americans to europe. It was called “mal francese” or the french disease because it spread as france invaded italy. When this army disbanded ; returned home they spread the disease farther throughout europe.