The Houston Health Department issued an urgent alert to local residents as a dramatic surge in syphilis cases among women unfolded, sparking deep concern among health professionals.
The steep rise of 128% in infections among the female demographic underscores an escalating public health crisis.
In addition to the disturbing increase among women, Houston and the broader Harris County witnessed a nine-fold escalation in congenital syphilis.
The health department’s statistics revealed a disconcerting trend — an uptick in new infections by 57% — from 1,845 cases in 2019 to 2,905 by 2022.
Moreover, the number of female cases has more than doubled in recent years. In 2019, the recorded number was 295, and last year, this figure soared to 674.
Congenital syphilis cases too spiked, with 16 reported in 2016 and 151 in 2021, as per the most recent available data.
The health department’s response is swift and comprehensive. As disclosed on Thursday, an extensive outreach program will be set into motion.
The ambitious strategy includes boosting screening availability, addressing infection hotspots, and rallying community partners to minimize new infections.
“It is crucial for pregnant women to seek prenatal care and syphilis testing to protect themselves from an infection that could result in the deaths of their babies,” stated Marlene McNeese Ward, deputy assistant director in the department’s Bureau of HIV/STI and Viral Hepatitis Prevention.
“A pregnant woman needs to get tested for syphilis three times during her pregnancy,” she continued.
As part of the aggressive public health response, the department is eliminating all clinical fees for sexually transmitted infection consultations at its health centers and widening the reach of its HIV/STD mobile clinic.
Collaborative efforts with medical providers and community-based partners are underway to heighten awareness of the outbreak, augment testing, and optimize treatment options. Testing is recommended at the onset of a woman’s prenatal care, during the third trimester, and at delivery.
The consequences of untreated syphilis during pregnancy are dire, potentially leading to a stillbirth or a baby’s death shortly after birth.
Furthermore, individuals with syphilis face a higher risk of HIV infection due to the painless sore that emerges at the site of sexual contact during the disease’s initial stage.
Although syphilis is a condition that responds well to antibiotic treatment, lack of intervention can see the infection advance to the secondary stage, characterized by skin rashes.
Regrettably, syphilis often goes unnoticed, its symptoms misinterpreted or undetected, which results in the syphilis bacterium dwelling in the body and compromising internal organs.
As a vital part of their public health response, the department emphasizes syphilis testing for pregnant women at the start of prenatal care, third trimester, and delivery.
They also urge testing for individuals who have had unprotected sex, those with multiple sex partners, men engaging with anonymous sex partners, and individuals recently diagnosed with any other sexually transmitted disease.