There is currently a statewide outbreak of syphilis in Arizona, a bacterial infection that is usually spread by sexual contact.
Medical providers are seeing the largest increase of syphilis cases in women and newborns. A pregnant woman can pass syphilis to her unborn child, which is called congenital syphilis.
Congenital syphilis can lead to problems with the skin, eyes and brain, stillbirth or infant death. Up to 40 percent of untreated syphilitic pregnancies result in stillbirth or newborn death.
In a follow-up on a report in early October, Arizona state health officials report the number of congenital syphilis cases, or syphilis cases in babies has risen to 45 as of today.
Of this total, eight baby deaths have been reported.
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Since January 2015, the monthly average of syphilis cases in women have increased by more than 250 percent, with 637 cases reported year-to-date.
Arizona Department of Health recommends pregnant women discuss their risk with a health care provider and get tested. Getting timely testing and treatment can reduce negative health outcomes for mother and baby.
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The increase in congenital syphilis in Arizona started in 2014 and was essentially ignored by the Arizona Department of Health Services until now. The increase in congenital syphilis in Arizona occurs in the context of overall increases in rates of syphilis and other STDs in Arizona. The increase is not limited to Arizona. The traditional public health approach to outbreaks of syphilis (and other sexually transmitted diseases) is contact tracing. The belief that making people aware of the symptoms of syphilis and discussions about the risk of syphilis between women and their physicians will address the problem of syphilis shows a shameful lack of understanding of the fundamental principles of public health.