“The Houston Health Department has declared a syphilis outbreak as cases have skyrocketed 128% among women in the city.
“According to most recent data, reported cases rose from 1,845 in 2019 to 2,905 in 2022.
“Houston and surrounding Harris County have also experienced a nine-fold increase in congenital syphilis, as reported cases rose from just 16 cases in 2016 to 151 infections in 2021, the latest year of available statistics.
“Congenital syphilis is a type of infection that is present at birth and is transmitted from an infected mother to her unborn baby during pregnancy.
“The severity of the infection in the baby depends on various factors, but can lead to a range of serious health problems, including stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight, bone deformities, developmental issues, or a baby’s death soon after birth.”
Read more at KTVH
