Congenital syphilis cases are rising across the U.S. as newborns acquire the treatable infection from their mothers [1, 2, 3].

The surge in infections is critical because the disease is entirely preventable with routine screening and treatment during pregnancy. When missed, the infection can lead to severe health complications or death for the infant.

Public health officials said spikes have occurred in several states, including California, Minnesota, New York, and Colorado [4, 5, 6, 7]. In New York, three infants died from congenital syphilis [8]. In Minnesota, cases reached a 40-year high [5].

Health experts said the rise is due to an increase in syphilis infections among pregnant women [9, 10]. The trend is further linked to disruptions in testing and care caused by the pandemic, as well as insufficient routine screening [9, 10].

Reporting on the trend in Colorado shows some variation. The Denver Post said that while cases increased last year, the trajectory has stabilized [7]. However, Time said that cases continue to rise nationally, including within Colorado [3].

Health chiefs in California said sexually active individuals should seek urgent testing to curb the spread [4]. Because the infection can be treated effectively with antibiotics, officials said the current increase in newborn cases reflects a failure in prenatal care systems rather than a lack of medical solutions [1, 3].

“Three infants died from congenital syphilis in New York”

The resurgence of congenital syphilis indicates a systemic breakdown in prenatal screening and public health outreach. While the medical treatment for syphilis is well-established, the rise in infant deaths and infections suggests that vulnerable populations are facing significant barriers to timely diagnosis and care, potentially exacerbated by the long-term healthcare disruptions following the pandemic.