MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Health Department is cutting back on testing in the middle of an STD crisis.

Health Commissioner Doctor Patricia McManus says nurses at the Kennan Health Center performed tests that they were not licensed to do.

The center was closed for review and nurses were ordered to stop some services.

Critics say this is the wrong time to cut back.

Milwaukee is seeing an unexpected spike in sexually transmitted diseases.

Three children were born with syphilis last year.