WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to the startling upswing in syphilis cases across the nation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is coming out swinging. With a strategic plan that targets health inequalities and advocates for health equity, the HHS is pulling together its resources, its vast network of stakeholders, and its expertise to tackle the surging syphilis issue.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) paints a grim picture – an 80% rise in syphilis cases since 2018, marking a sustained upward trajectory spanning decades. Worse still, 2022 saw over 207,000 cases reported, with certain racial and ethnic groups bearing a disproportionate share of the disease burden. Of particular concern is the rise in congenital syphilis, leading to major health complications and even death in infants – a more than tenfold increase since 2012.
In a move to address this pressing public health crisis, the HHS has formed the National Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis Syndemic (NSCSS) Federal Task Force. Tasked with reducing syphilis rates, promoting health equity, correlating with impacted communities, and redirecting resources to those hit hardest. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra underscored the administration’s determination to obliterate disparities in the healthcare system and prevent fatalities arising from congenital syphilis, a preventable condition.
The HHS has already sprung into action. In July 2023, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS), circulated letters to their grant recipients and providers, supplying informational resources to address the epidemic in Native American communities. Additionally, the CDC published draft recommendations in October 2023, detailing the use of the antibiotic doxycycline to prevent syphilis in certain high-risk populations. The IHS announced a fresh national clinical strategic initiative, designed to help tribal communities fight syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections.
More recently, the HHS utilized heatmaps to pinpoint jurisdictions with high rates of syphilis and congenital syphilis cases. These heatmaps overlaid cases with HHS resources, including family planning clinics under Title X, Ryan White clinics, IHS clinics, and Federally Qualified Health Centers. The HHS plans to continue dialogues in these areas, conducting engagement sessions to direct resources and support those most afflicted.
The HHS is also engaging with national public health organizations and professional medical societies to provide tools and information for clinical care around congenital syphilis. They plan to leverage funding flexibilities from grant programs to bolster STI counseling, testing, and treatment services.
While the syphilis epidemic impacts nearly every community, racial and ethnic groups such as African Americans and Native Americans bear an unjust burden due to longstanding social inequities. The HHS acknowledges the urgent need to address this resurgence and is optimistic about the development of innovative prevention tools and improved tests for syphilis. However, the focus remains on reaching those who will benefit most from these advancements.
As the HHS strives to reverse the spiraling trend of syphilis cases, the department remains committed to bettering outcomes for birthing parents and newborns, preventing deaths caused by congenital syphilis, and rooting out disparities in the healthcare system. With health equity and community engagement at its core, the HHS is vested in reversing the alarming trend of syphilis cases in America.
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