Soaring congenital syphilis rates in US risk lives of thousands of babies

Biden administration urged to declare a public health emergency with key medication for preventable condition in short supply

Health advocates are calling on the Biden administration to declare a public health emergency over a steep rise in congenital syphilis cases. The easily treated infection has quintupled in 10 years and can have harrowing impacts on children.

Congenital syphilis happens when a baby contracts syphilis from its mother. Up to 40% of babies born to untreated mothers will be stillborn or die. Others can be left with severe birth defects such as bone damage, anemia, blindness or deafness, and “neurological devastation”.