Syphilis Rates Soar as STD Prevention Budgets Slashed Due to Debt Ceiling Deal

States struggle to respond as syphilis rates spike, with Nevada seeing a 44% increase and Arizona having the highest rate of congenital syphilis in the nation; marginalised communities, pregnant women and newborns face increased risks.

• The syphilis rate has skyrocketed in several US states due to a significant cut in STD prevention budgets. For example, Nevada saw a 44% jump in congenital syphilis from 2021 to 2022 after its STD prevention budget was reduced by more than 75%.
• The budget cuts were part of the national debt ceiling deal and resulted in the cancellation of a $1 billion investment aimed at strengthening STD prevention. Many states are now having trouble expanding their disease intervention specialist workforce, which is crucial in preventing the spread of syphilis.
• In 2021, the US recorded 176,713 syphilis cases - a 31% increase from the previous year. Major concerns are the increasing number of pregnant women transmitting syphilis to their newborns, and the severe health risks it poses, including blindness, bone damage, and stillbirths.
• Disease intervention specialists are key to the timely treatment of syphilis and preventing congenital syphilis - they link infected adults and their partners with care for syphilis, which presents minor symptoms in adults. The specialists also assist pregnant patients in finding prenatal care.
• States like Mississippi and Arizona are desperately seeking alternative funding sources to counter the budget cuts. Arizona, which has the highest rate of congenital syphilis nationwide, used federal funds to clear a backlog of non-syphilis STD investigations and is looking to preserver some of the unspent grant money for future challenges.

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