Congenital syphilis: Public health failures are blamed for “alarming” increase in cases in Mississippi – GWC Mag

The southern US state of Mississippi reported a 1000% increase in cases of congenital syphilis from 10 in 2016 to 110 in 2022, a study published in Emerging Infectious Diseases has reported.1

Congenital syphilis cases have been rising in the US since 2013, from a low of 8.4 cases per 100 000 live births during 2008-12 to 77.9 cases per 100 000 live births in 2021.2 In 2021 there were 2855 cases of congenital syphilis nationally, including 220 stillbirths and infant deaths. Cases were highest in southern and south western states.

Mississippi is the poorest state in the US. It has the highest infant mortality rate (9.39 per 1000 live births)3 and is tied …