US health officials alarmed by ‘dire’ rise in dangerous, preventable syphilis infections in babies

Significant Increase in Cases: There has been a 1000% increase in congenital syphilis cases since 2012, with a 32% rise in 2022 alone, leading to nearly 300 infant deaths or stillbirths.

Preventability of the Disease: Congenital syphilis, transmitted from infected mothers to babies during pregnancy, is largely preventable with timely treatment using penicillin.

Highest Levels in Decades: The United States is experiencing the highest number of congenital syphilis cases in over 30 years, indicating a severe public health challenge.

Challenges in Public Health Response: The response to this crisis is hindered by budget cuts in public health funding and a shortage of Bicillin, the only approved drug for treating syphilis in pregnancy.

CDC's Call to Action: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urgently calling for increased involvement from the entire medical community in screening and treating infected individuals to protect newborns.