Health officials are raising urgent concerns as syphilis infections surge across the United States, with several California counties reporting particularly alarming rates.
Public health leaders say the spike mirrors trends not seen in decades, prompting renewed calls for widespread testing — especially among sexually active individuals and pregnant women, KTLA5 reported.
Across the country, syphilis cases have risen sharply over the past decade. In states like New York, infections have increased fivefold since 2013, reflecting a broader nationwide trend.
Even more concerning, federal data shows congenital syphilis — when the infection is passed from a pregnant mother to her baby — has skyrocketed by 700% compared to roughly ten years ago.
Congenital cases can have devastating consequences, including miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death, or serious lifelong health complications such as organ damage and bone deformities.
Despite progress in reducing other sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea, congenital syphilis has continued climbing year after year. By 2024, it marked 12 consecutive years of increases, reaching its highest level since 1994.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has set a national goal of reducing syphilis rates among women of reproductive age to 4.6 cases per 100,000 people by 2030.
To reach that benchmark, health officials are urging providers to routinely screen people between the ages of 15 and 44 in areas where infection rates are elevated.
Repeat testing is also recommended during pregnancy in the hardest-hit regions to prevent transmission to newborns.
Within California, infection rates vary widely — but several densely populated counties are reporting troubling numbers.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
