CDC
Congenital syphilis rates continue to climb, as overall STI rates decline
September 25, 2025

New provisional CDC data show congenital syphilis cases rose for the 12th consecutive year in 2024, reaching nearly 4,000 cases—a 2% increase over 2023 and a 700% increase since 2015. This preventable condition remains a severe consequence of the ongoing STI epidemic, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. CDC emphasizes the need for intensified prevention efforts at all levels of care.
Despite the rise in congenital syphilis, national STI trends show improvement:
- Overall STI cases declined 9% from 2023 (third consecutive year)
- Primary and secondary syphilis dropped nearly 22%
- Gonorrhea declined by nearly 10%
- Chlamydia fell 8%
These declines reflect expanded public health interventions, including increased awareness, self-testing, and use of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy PEP). However, regional and population-level disparities persist, and some communities may still see rising STI rates not captured in national data.
Source:
CDC. (2025, September 24). CDC Reports Latest National Data on Syphilis in Newborns and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2025/2025-cdc-reports-latest-national-data-on-syphilis-in-newborns-and-sexually-transmitted-infections-stis.html
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