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 described by health officials as both deadly and preventable.
The provisional figures indicate that cases of newborn syphilis rose by almost 2% compared to 2023. While this represents a smaller increase than those seen in some previous years, it marks a significant jump since 2015, when only 495 cases were reported—a nearly 700% rise over nine years.
In addition to congenital syphilis, the CDC reports that the overall burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remains high nationwide. In 2024, more than 2.2 million STI cases were recorded, representing a 13% increase since 2015. Despite these numbers, there are signs of improvement. The total number of reported STIs fell by 9% from the previous year—the third straight year of decline.
Other specific trends include a drop in primary and secondary syphilis cases—the most infectious stages—by nearly 22%, also marking two consecutive years of decrease. Gonorrhea cases declined by about 10%, continuing a three-year downward trend. Chlamydia infections fell by 8%, down for a second consecutive year.
The CDC attributes these declines to public health measures such as greater awareness about STIs and wider use of prevention tools like self-tests and doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy PEP). However, the agency notes that while national data show progress, regional and population differences mean some communities may still see increases not captured in these latest statistics.
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 to monitor disease trends and support local initiatives aimed at reducing infections across communities.
