"Rapid Rise: Syphilis Cases Skyrocket in Salt Lake County and Connecticut, A Cause for Concern"

Salt Lake County in Utah has experienced an alarming 800% increase in syphilis cases among young women from 2018 to 2022, with 89% of cases occurring in women of childbearing age. This surge in syphilis cases poses a higher risk of newborn syphilis in the community, with four cases of congenital syphilis confirmed so far this year. The Salt Lake County Health Department emphasizes the importance of timely testing and treatment during pregnancy to prevent stillbirth, miscarriage, neonatal death, and long-term health complications in infants. Overall syphilis rates in the county have increased by 65% during the same period. Health officials recommend regular testing for syphilis, especially for pregnant women and those with multiple or anonymous sexual partners. Syphilis is a curable sexually transmitted infection caused by a bacterium, but treatment may not reverse the damage already caused.