2022 saw a 70-year high in US syphilis infections, disproportionately affecting Native Americans, coinciding with penicillin shortage.
2022 saw a 70-year high in syphilis infections in the U.S., disproportionately affecting Native Americans. Public health nurses in Gallup, New Mexico are searching for patients with syphilis or exposure to the disease across the sprawling Navajo Nation. Untreated congenital syphilis can lead to severe health complications, such as bone deformities, anemia, jaundice, meningitis, and even death. In 2022, the CDC recorded 231 stillbirths and 51 infant deaths due to congenital syphilis. The surge in syphilis infections coincides with a shortage of penicillin, the most effective treatment.
March 21, 2024
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