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U.S. Adult STI Cases Fell in 2024, but Newborn Syphilis Rose for 12th Year

Gaps in prenatal screening, with delays in treatment, are driving the continuing rise in newborn infections.

Overview

  • Provisional CDC data show about 2.2 million reported STIs in 2024, an approximate 8–9% decline from 2023.
  • Primary and secondary syphilis cases fell by roughly 21.7% in 2024, with overall syphilis down about 9.1%.
  • Chlamydia dropped to about 1.5 million cases (down ~8%) and gonorrhea declined to 543,409 (down ~9.6%).
  • Congenital syphilis rose to 3,941 cases in 2024, a roughly 1.6% increase over 2023 and the 12th consecutive annual rise.
  • CDC officials cite expanded prevention tools like self-tests and doxycycline PEP for adult declines, while a recent CDC study found only about 80% of pregnant patients receive syphilis screening, and trends can vary significantly by community.