Congenital syphilis in New York state is rising faster than any other sexually transmitted infection, pointing to dwindling prevention efforts and public health workforce shortages that emerged at the height of the pandemic, a new state report shows.
Congenital syphilis was detected among 51 infants in 2022, the latest year data is available, marking a 24% annual increase, according to a report released by the Health department on Monday. The disease has climbed in New York for the past few years, rising 75% from five years ago.
New York’s congenital syphilis rate places it among the 10 states with worst infection rates in the U.S., the state Health department said. While congenital syphilis cases have increased nationwide, skyrocketing rates oftentimes point to weaknesses in the public health system, experts say.
Congenital syphilis occurs when a pregnant person who has contracted syphilis passes the infection to the baby, either in the womb or during a vaginal delivery. The disease, which is entirely preventable with adequate screening and treatment, can result in serious side effects like nerve damage or infant death.
The Health department said that public health prevention efforts and control of sexually transmitted infections were “severely disrupted” in 2020 and 2021 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to increased syphilis diagnoses as well as upticks in chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Chlamydia, the state’s most frequently reported sexually transmitted infection, increased by 2% between 2021 and 2022, affecting nearly 104,000 New Yorkers. Gonorrhea increased by less than 1% and was detected in more than 43,000 people by 2022.
Most sexually transmitted infections were observed among young New Yorkers, people of color and men who have sex with men, the Health department said. The rise of congenital syphilis has also revealed pregnant people as an at-risk group.
New state data comes as congenital syphilis cases skyrocket in New York City. Congenital syphilis rose by 133% between the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years, according to the mayor’s preliminary management report released in February.
There were 14 congenital syphilis cases recorded in the city between July and October 2023, the data showed. While those numbers may seem minimal, experts said that any case points to weaknesses in the public health system.
Amanda D'Ambrosio , 2024-04-16 11:33:04
Source link
