At least three babies have died of presumed congenital syphilis in New York state this year, prompting health officials to warn about the risks of the preventable infection.
A pregnant woman can pass syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection, to her fetus. Left untreated, congenital syphilis can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, skeletal abnormalities, neurological problems, developmental delays, stillbirth or infant death shortly after birth.
“Detecting syphilis early in pregnancy with a simple blood test is important to ensure rapid diagnosis and treatment, so you have a healthy baby,” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in a statement this week.
New York has reported 21 cases of congenital syphilis in counties outside of NYC this year. Authorities did not disclose where the three infant deaths happened, except that they weren’t in the city.
There were 36 cases in the region outside of NYC last year, including five stillbirths and one infant death. Eight infant deaths presumptively linked to syphilis were recorded in the area between 2019 and 2023.
“The highest rates we’re seeing are in Native Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Hispanic populations and black populations,” Kristin Wall, an associate professor of epidemiology at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, told ABC News about national congenital syphilis trends.
“And I think it’s really important to think about access to care barriers as one of the big reasons that we’re seeing these increasing rates in certain populations.”
Unsurprisingly, there has been a “concerning” rise in infectious syphilis cases among female New York residents, contributing to a nationwide surge.
Researchers have speculated that the increase could be due to decreased condom use, a disruption in healthcare routines because of the COVID-19 pandemic, inadequate sex education and disparities in access to testing and screening services.
New York officials observed that substance use and hepatitis C were notable threads throughout congenital syphilis cases in the state.
Last year, New York implemented a requirement for syphilis screening during the third trimester.
Pregnant women must now be tested for syphilis at their first prenatal appointment, in their third trimester (between weeks 28 and 32) and at delivery.
Penicillin is the recommended treatment for syphilis, though some people may be allergic. In those cases, desensitization may be necessary.
Unfortunately, there’s been a nationwide penicillin shortage for months, compounding syphilis concerns.
Syphilis is spread by vaginal, anal or oral sex. Symptoms typically emerge 10 to 90 days after exposure, starting with a painless sore that appears at the site where the bacterium Treponema pallidum entered the body.
The sore can heal on its own in three to six weeks, even as the infection persists.
In the next stage of infection, symptoms can include a rash, fever, fatigue, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes and hair loss.
Syphilis is typically diagnosed with a blood test. New York’s health department reminded residents that they have access to at-home testing options for sexually transmitted infections.
If not addressed, syphilis can devastate the brain, heart and nervous system, leading to blindness, paralysis and even death.
