Rising rates of congenital syphilis in St. Louis area prompt public health advisory

ST. LOUIS — Health department officials in St. Louis and St. Louis County on Thursday released a public health alert warning residents of increased incidents of syphilis and HIV co-infections among Missourians of child-bearing potential.

The joint alert by the City of St. Louis Department of Health, the St. Louis County Department of Public Health and the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis recommended to providers that routine testing for syphilis should occur three times during pregnancy: at the first prenatal care visit, at 28 weeks and at delivery.

In 2021, 63 congenital syphilis cases were reported in Missouri, which marked the highest number of cases since 1994, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.  

From 2020–2022, there were 56 cases of congenital syphilis in St. Louis and St. Louis County, whereas between 1999–2019 there were only 47 cases. 

Health officials also said routine testing for HIV should be done, as well as routine syphilis tests for people with HIV, especially pregnant parents, because HIV and syphilis co-infection leads to an increased risk of HIV transmission to babies during pregnancy. 

This particular type of transfer of infection is called vertical transmission. Vertical transmission can cause stillbirths, miscarriage, infant death and long-term disability. 

Syphilis transmission cases can be prevented with testing and treatment in a timely manner. 

There is also an increased number of perinatal HIV cases reported, as well as increased reports of pregnant Missourians co-infected with syphilis and HIV. 

HIV transmission can be prevented with testing and treatment. 

Visit the Centers for Disease Control website for more information on syphillis and the prevention and treatment of sexually-transmitted diseases.