Newborn syphilis cases have reached 'dire levels,' CDC says

Newborn syphilis cases, which can be fatal, have risen more than 10-fold in the last decade and nearly 32% in a single year, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Tuesday. The CDC said that cases have reached “dire levels” in the U.S. More than 3,700 cases were reported to the agency in 2022, up from 2,855 in 2021 and 335 cases in 2012. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria that can linger in the body for many years.

Why aren't more people getting tested? There are several reasons why pregnant people don't see a regular doctor such as an OB/GYN: They don’t have a car or health insurance, they have a job or caretaking responsibilities, or they struggle to find a provider who speaks their language, Stafford said. Many of these people end up going to the emergency department for their health concerns, said Dr. Kimberly Stanford, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago.

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