Why is Syphilis surging in US? All you need to know about the disease

The sharp rise in Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including a 26 per cent jump in syphilis cases, has raised an alarm in the US. As authorities work on novel remedies like at-home test kits, the number of syphilis cases has increased to its highest level in thirty years.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released preliminary data in September, which shows the rise of sexually transmitted diseases in the US. As per the data, Syphilis cases, in particular, have shot up by 26 per cent from 2020 to 2021. Congenital Syphilis, which fatally infect fetuses in the womb and can result in defect at birth, has risen by 24 per cent, which is especially alarming.

Why are syphilis cases increasing?


The occurrence of Syphilis in the United States reached a record low in 2000 but has since risen nearly every year. This is due to several factors, such as a lack of funding for public health in the United States and a taboo related to sex. Public health facilities where people frequently undergo STI tests are poorly funded. Since understaffed public-health clinics had to divert resources to contain the epidemic due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation grew worse.
FAQ

1. Who are at higher risk of contracting Syphilis?
   The US Preventive Services Task Force stated that men who have sexual relations with men, people infected with HIV, and Black Americans fall in the highest risk groups for Syphilis.
2. How can you prevent Syphilis?
   Syphilis is treatable with antibiotics and can be identified with a quick test at a clinic (which is usually free or affordable). The risk can be lowered by the use of condoms, increased testing, and monogamous relationships with partners who tested negative.