Syphilis is spreading at an alarming rate, reaching its highest levels in over 70 years in the US, according to the latest official data, with cases ramping up 32% between 2021 and 2022.
Cases of congenital syphilis – passed from mother to child during pregnancy and linked to stillbirths, infant deaths, and lifelong problems – have spiked at the same rate, despite the CDC claiming the disease was almost wiped out 15-20 years ago.
There were 7.1 million new cases reported globally in 2020, while last year, the UK saw its highest number of cases reported since 1948.