The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is issuing a public health alert following five stillbirths or neonatal deaths in babies with congenital syphilis born between Jan. 1,
An analysis in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report highlights the surge in congenital syphilis cases in the US due to gaps in testing and treatment, underscoring the need for enhanced prenatal care strategies to combat this preventable disease effectively.
While perinatal infections like HIV and hepatitis B are declining in the United States, there has been a substantial increase in cases of congenital syphilis. A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that between 2012 to 2021, reported cases of congenital syphilis rose by 755%, with the number reaching 2,865 in 2021.
This report describes how health care providers outside of prenatal care settings can help prevent newborn syphilis through syphilis testing and treatment during pregnancy.