A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) unveils a troubling surge in syphilis cases across the United States. The period from 2018 to 2022 witnessed an alarming 80% increase, totaling over 207,000 cases. This concerning trend spans various age groups and regions, impacting even newborns, with a staggering 937% rise in congenital syphilis cases over the past decade.
The CDC's public health announcement emphasizes the severity of the situation, urging immediate attention. "Once again," the CDC website states, "the United States reported over 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis."According to the report, the most pressing concerns revolve around the escalating syphilis and congenital syphilis epidemics, underscoring the urgent need for rapid innovation and collaboration among all stakeholders in STI prevention. While the syphilis epidemic worsens, reported gonorrhea cases saw a decline for the first time in at least a decade, while reported chlamydia cases remained stable.