Increase in Incidence of Congenital Syphilis

November 12, 2015 – New data show sharp increases in reported cases of congenital syphilis between 2012 and 2014

New surveillance data assessing recent trends in congenital syphilis show sharp increases in reported cases between 2012 and 2014. After a period of decline from 2008 to 2012, rates increased by 38 percent from 2012 to 2014 (from 334 to 458 cases). This increase parallels a national increase in primary and secondary syphilis among women during the same time period and points to numerous missed opportunities to prevent mother-to-infant transmission.