U.S. Newborn Syphilis Cases Rise for 12th Consecutive Year Despite Overall STI Decline

CDC report finds that cases of newborn syphilis increased by nearly 2 percent compared to 2023

Sept. 24, 2025

2 min read

Key Highlights

Newborn syphilis cases increased for the 12th consecutive year in 2024, reaching nearly 4,000 cases.
Overall, STIs in the U.S. declined by 9 percent in 2024, with significant drops in syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
Despite progress, congenital syphilis remains a deadly but preventable condition, highlighting the need for enhanced prevention strategies.
The CDC emphasizes the importance of federal, state, and local efforts to combat the persistent STI epidemic.
The report underscores the ongoing public health challenge of STIs affecting millions of Americans annually.

CDC report finds that cases of newborn syphilis increased

On Wednesday, September 24, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new provisional CDC data showing U.S. cases of newborn syphilis increased for the 12th consecutive year in 2024, with nearly 4,000 cases reported. According to the news release, newborn syphilis is a deadly but preventable consequence of the nation's ongoing sexually transmitted infections (STI) epidemic.

According to the report, in 2024, cases of newborn syphilis increased by nearly 2 percent compared to 2023, which is notably lower than the double-digit increases seen in some recent years.

The overall STI burden in the United States remains high, with over 2.2 million cases reported in 2024, marking a 13 percent rise since 2015.

However, there are encouraging signs of progress, the CDC stated. In 2024:

Overall, reported STIs declined by 9 percent from 2023, marking a third consecutive year of decline.
Primary and secondary syphilis declined nearly 22 percent, down for a second consecutive year.
Gonorrhea cases declined by nearly 10 percent, marking a third consecutive year of decline.
Chlamydia cases declined by 8 percent, marking a second consecutive year of decline.

"While the STI epidemic may be turning a corner, we must accelerate progress and stop its most tragic consequences,” Bradley Stoner, M.D., Ph.D., The director of the CDC's Division of STD Prevention said in a statement. “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."