New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that cases of syphilis in newborns continued to rise in the United States in 2024. Nearly 4,000 cases were reported, marking the twelfth consecutive year of increase. Although the rise was almost 2% over 2023, this is a smaller increase compared to some previous years. Since 2015, when there were only 495 cases, the number of newborn syphilis cases has grown by nearly 700%.
The CDC reports that more than 2.2 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were recorded in the country in 2024. This represents a 13% increase since 2015. However, recent data also indicate some improvements. Overall reported STIs declined by 9% from 2023, continuing a downward trend for three years. The most infectious stages of syphilis—primary and secondary—fell by nearly 22%, which is the second consecutive year of decline. Gonorrhea cases dropped by almost 10%, also down for a third year, and chlamydia cases decreased by 8%, marking a second year of decline.
These reductions are attributed to public health efforts such as increased awareness about STIs and wider use of prevention methods like self-testing and doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy PEP). The CDC notes that trends can differ across regions and populations, so some communities may still be experiencing increases not reflected in national data.
Bradley Stoner, M.D., Ph.D., Director of CDC's Division of STD Prevention, stated: "While the STI epidemic may be turning a corner, we must accelerate progress and stop its most tragic consequences. About 1 in 5 people in the United States have an STI, affecting millions of Americans and thousands of babies each year. We need to continue our prevention efforts wholeheartedly at federal, state, and local levels."
The CDC continues its work to protect public health by providing timely information and responding quickly to disease outbreaks throughout the country.
