The rise in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the US and Australia has led to a sharp increase in infant mortality. Experts estimate that this is a completely preventable tragedy, which has claimed the lives of 42 children in Australia over the past decade, while infection rates in America have reached record highs.
According to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), congenital syphilis—where the infection is transmitted from a pregnant mother to the fetus—has surged by 700% over the last 10 years. In 2024, nearly 4,000 new cases of this diagnosis were recorded in the US, marking the highest figure since the 1950s. In California and New York, the rate of infection has increased fivefold.
Why is the disease failing to be contained?
Specialists explain that syphilis is easily diagnosed via a blood test and is fully curable with antibiotics (such as penicillin). If a pregnant woman receives timely treatment, the risks to the baby drop to zero.
However, the rise in cases is driven by a lack of access to medical services, insurance issues, and inadequate prenatal care during pregnancy. Statistics show that even among women who visit the doctor regularly, only 80% undergo screening for syphilis.
In response to the crisis, New York has already implemented a new regulation: syphilis screening has become mandatory for pregnant women during their very first visit, in the third trimester (at 28–32 weeks), and immediately during delivery. Experts are calling on public health leaders to make rapid diagnostic tests available in clinics and to establish the practice of initiating injectable penicillin treatment on the same day.
