CDC: As Syphilis Spikes among Newborns, More Early Prenatal Care Needed
Syphilis cases passed from pregnant women to newborns have doubled in four years, reaching a 20-year high, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cases in newborns jumped from 362 in 2013 to 918 in 2017. Cases were reported in 37 states. Louisiana had the most with 93.4 cases for every 100,000 births. Four of the five other states with the most cases have largely Latino populations—–California (39% Latino), Texas (39%), Arizona (31%), and Florida (24%). “When passed to a baby, syphilis can result in miscarriage, newborn death, and severe lifelong physical and mental health problems,” said Dr. Jonathan Mermin of the CDC. “No parent should have to bear the death of a child when it would have been prevented with a simple ...
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