Posted on 11/07/2023 7:47:33 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
ATLANTA -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday continued to sound the alarm about a spike in syphilis cases among newborns.
Congenital syphilis is caused by a pregnant woman with syphilis passing the infection to their unborn child. CDC officials said that new data shows that 10-times more babies were born with syphilis in 2022 than in 2012.
"New actions are needed to prevent more family tragedies," CDC Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry said. "We’re calling on healthcare providers, public health systems, and communities to take additional steps to connect mothers and babies with the care they need."
Syphilis during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death and long-term medical issues for newborns.
Officials said that the majority of cases of congenital syphilis last year may have been prevented with timely testing and treatment. Nearly 40% of cases were among mothers who weren't in prenatal care.
The CDC said factors such as a lack or insurance and limited access to healthcare have contributed to the rise in cases. Babies born to Black, Hispanic, or American Indian/Alaska Native mothers also are at a higher risk of syphilis due to racial disparities and long-standing socio-economic barriers.
"The congenital syphilis epidemic is an unacceptable American crisis," National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention director Jonathan Mermin said. "Our nation should be proactive and think beyond the OB/GYN’s office and bridge prevention gaps."
CDC officials called for increased syphilis screening for pregnant mothers and early treatment following a positive test. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services issued a memo last month calling on health care providers to increase screening and testing for syphilis.
“Didn’t Obamacare fix that?”
And this ‘third term’ of his with Brandon as his proxy is all sunshine, lollypops and rainbows!
*SPIT*
Babies born to Black, Hispanic, or American Indian/Alaska Native mothers also are at a higher risk of syphilis due to racial disparities and long-standing socio-economic barriers.
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Oh yeah, that’s the ticket!
Indeed a matter of conscience and the risk of a lawyer.
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