New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that cases of syphilis in newborns in the United States increased for the twelfth consecutive year in 2024, reaching nearly 4,000 reported cases. This condition, known as congenital syphilis, is considered both deadly and preventable.
The CDC reports that cases of newborn syphilis rose by almost 2% compared to 2023. While this increase is smaller than some previous years’ double-digit jumps, it marks a significant rise since 2015, when there were only 495 reported cases—an increase of nearly 700% over nine years.
In addition to congenital syphilis, the overall burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remains high. More than 2.2 million STI cases were reported in the U.S. in 2024, representing a 13% increase since 2015. However, provisional data indicate some positive trends: overall reported STIs declined by 9% from 2023, marking the third consecutive year of decreases. Cases of primary and secondary syphilis—the most infectious stages—fell by nearly 22%, also down for a second straight year. Gonorrhea cases dropped by almost 10%, while chlamydia decreased by 8%. Both diseases have seen declines for multiple years.
The CDC attributes these improvements to ongoing public health efforts such as greater awareness campaigns and expanded use of prevention tools like self-tests and doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy PEP). The agency cautions that these national trends may not reflect conditions in all regions or communities; some areas may still experience increases not shown in national data.
Bradley Stoner, M.D., Ph.D., Director of CDC’s Division of STD Prevention, stated: “While the STI epidemic may be turning a corner, we must accelerate progress and stop its most tragic consequences. About 1 in 5 people in the United States have an STI, affecting millions of Americans and thousands of babies each year. We need to continue our prevention efforts wholeheartedly at federal, state, and local levels.”
The CDC continues its work to protect public health by investing in local initiatives and responding rapidly to disease outbreaks across the country.
