Surge in Congenital Syphilis Raises Alarm Among Doctors

WHO:

statnews.com - Jeffrey D. Klausner, clinical professor of medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, board-certified internist and infectious disease specialist, former federal and county public health official.

WHAT:

statnews.com - In 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported nearly 4,000 new cases of syphilis in babies, the highest case number since the mid-1950s.

statnews.com - Typically, about 5%-10% of reported cases of congenital syphilis result in stillbirths or deaths soon after delivery.

statnews.com - Many surviving babies are left with lifelong disability or developmental delay.

statnews.com - Nearly all states have legislated mandates for syphilis screening in pregnancy, often requiring up to three tests.

WHERE:

statnews.com - The increase in congenital syphilis reflects a national issue in the United States, particularly linked to the loss of syphilis control that began with the Great Recession.

WHEN:

statnews.com - The CDC reported the surge in congenital syphilis cases in 2024.

WHY:

statnews.com - The increase in congenital syphilis is attributed to pregnant women not being tested and, among those who test positive, not receiving treatment.

statnews.com - Contributing factors include lack of insurance, poor access to care, fear of immigration detention, and other medical conditions like substance use or mental health problems.

HOW:

statnews.com - To control congenital syphilis, the U.S. needs to treat it as a preventable outcome of missed screening, treatment, and follow-up.

statnews.com - Public health must work toward making prenatal care early, easy, and universal, with same-week prenatal care entry, walk-in and telehealth options, and evening and weekend clinics.

statnews.com - Medical providers should follow national and expert recommendations to treat syphilis immediately upon an initial positive screening test without waiting for referral or additional testing.

statnews.com - Rapid point-of-care syphilis tests should be deployed in emergency departments, urgent care centers, shelters, correctional settings, and mobile clinics.

(UPDATED June 18, 2026 01:49 UTC)

A recent report from the CDC highlighted a troubling surge in congenital syphilis cases in the U.S., with nearly 4,000 new cases in 2024, the highest number since the mid-1950s. This alarming trend is largely attributed to pregnant women not being tested or treated for syphilis, compounded by barriers such as lack of insurance and access to care. To combat this issue, public health officials are advocating for improved prenatal care access, immediate treatment upon positive screenings, and the deployment of rapid syphilis tests in various healthcare settings.