Syphilis Rates on the Rise in Florida, Leading to Increase in Congenital Syphilis Cases Among Newborns

Alaska, United States New Zealand
Hospitals are closing down units due to nursing shortages and provider shortages which can lead to maternity care deserts where there is limited access to healthcare providers or hospitals.
However, accessibility issues including lack of insurance or limited healthcare access are some of the barriers that prevent high-quality prenatal care which can lead to untreated syphilis infection. Systemic racism also plays a role as it affects women's ability to get proper medical attention, leading to higher rates of congenital syphilis among American Indians and Alaska Natives.
In recent years, syphilis rates have been on the rise in several states across the US, with Florida experiencing a significant increase in 2022.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can be passed from person to person through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. It's caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum and can lead to serious health problems if left untreated.
This has led to an uptick in congenital syphilis cases among newborns born to mothers who are infected with the disease during pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that pregnant women be screened twice, once in the first trimester and again later in pregnancy, to prevent untreated syphilis infection which can lead to severe health problems like miscarriage, preterm birth and stillbirth.
Syphilis Rates on the Rise in Florida, Leading to Increase in Congenital Syphilis Cases Among Newborns

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can be passed from person to person through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. It's caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum and can lead to serious health problems if left untreated. In recent years, syphilis rates have been on the rise in several states across the US, with Florida experiencing a significant increase in 2022. This has led to an uptick in congenital syphilis cases among newborns born to mothers who are infected with the disease during pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that pregnant women be screened twice, once in the first trimester and again later in pregnancy, to prevent untreated syphilis infection which can lead to severe health problems like miscarriage, preterm birth and stillbirth. However, accessibility issues including lack of insurance or limited healthcare access are some of the barriers that prevent high-quality prenatal care which can lead to untreated syphilis infection. Systemic racism also plays a role as it affects women's ability to get proper medical attention, leading to higher rates of congenital syphilis among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Hospitals are closing down units due to nursing shortages and provider shortages which can lead to maternity care deserts where there is limited access to healthcare providers or hospitals.


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Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • It's not clear if there have been any recent studies on why accessibility issues and systemic racism are leading to higher rates of congenital syphilis among American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Sources

79%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Here's why syphilis, a disease once almost eradicated in the U.S., has come roaring back

Salon Media Group Thursday, 22 February 2024 10:30
  • Unique Points
    • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study that found women giving birth in the US are three times more likely to have syphilis today than they were approximately eight years ago.
    • More than 10,000 women who gave birth in 2022 had syphilis, an increase from 3,400 cases in 2016.
    • The U.S came close to eradicating syphilis, but rates of the disease began to creep up in the early 2000s and haven't been able to slow down since with an access issue being one of the main drivers behind this rise.
    • Alaska has experienced a spike in syphilis cases, affecting pregnant people and their babies.
    • The estimated 200,000 or more Alaskans of reproductive age who are sexually active should be tested for syphilis if they are unsure of their status.
    • Everyone should get retested each time they have a new sexual partner, and every 3-6 months if they have multiple partners.
    • The state's epidemiology team identified several barriers faced by the increasing number of people testing positive for syphilis and birthing babies with congenital syphilis that limit their access to care including housing insecurity and homelessness, unreliable transportation, sexual assault or intimate partner violence, lack of insurance coverage and limited access to contraception.
    • The clinic provides STI testing and treatment along with contraception access to where neighbors need care regardless of ability to pay.
    • KBFPC's outreach team is providing critical health information at community education events in select middle and high schools ensuring Alaskans know about important reproductive and sexual health topics, including STI prevention.
    • If you are sexually active, get tested for syphilis by practicing safer sex using condoms.
    • If you are pregnant talk to a medical provider about prenatal care throughout your pregnancy.
    • Contact local Public Health Centers or KBFPC for recommendations on affordable STI testing and prenatal care.
    • Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic is collaborating with partner social service and health organizations as well as state agencies on solutions that combat health inequity on the Kenai Peninsula over the long-term, improve reproductive and sexual health of individuals, their families, whole communities today.
  • Accuracy
    • The biggest increase in syphilis was seen among those who did not receive prenatal care at all, but it still increased for expecting mothers who began care in the first trimester.
    • Timing and testing are crucial as no testing or late testing can lead to untreated syphilis infection.
  • Deception (80%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that syphilis has come roaring back when it was actually close to being eradicated before this recent spike. Secondly, the author implies that testing for syphilis is becoming harder to access due to defunding of free test clinics but fails to mention any other factors contributing to this issue such as lack of awareness or stigma surrounding STDs. Thirdly, the article uses fear tactics by stating that untreated syphilis can cause severe and sometimes life-threatening effects for infants born with congenital syphilis.
    • The author claims that syphilis has come roaring back when it was actually close to being eradicated before this recent spike. This is a lie by omission as the article fails to provide any context or data supporting this claim.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article discusses the rise in syphilis cases among women giving birth in the US and its impact on congenital syphilis. The author cites statistics from a CDC report that found an increase of more than 10,000 women who gave birth with syphilis in 2022 compared to 3,400 cases in 2016. They also mention the rise in congenital syphilis cases and its impact on infant health. The article discusses testing and treatment for syphilis, including a two-step process that requires confirmation of a positive result before treatment can be administered. The author cites Dr. Elizabeth Cherot's explanation of how barriers to getting high-quality prenatal care, such as lack of insurance or limited healthcare access, contribute to the rise in syphilis cases among pregnant women.
    • The number of women who gave birth with syphilis increased from 3,400 cases in 2016 to more than 10,000 cases in 2022. (Source: CDC report)
    • More than half of congenital syphilis cases could have been prevented if testing and treatment were provided earlier. (Source: Dr. Elizabeth Cherot's explanation)
    • The signs and symptoms of syphilis can take years to develop, making it difficult for pregnant women to get screened early enough before the infection spreads to their babies. (Source: Dr. Elizabeth Cherot's explanation)
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
    Dr. Elizabeth Cherot has a financial stake in the pharmaceutical industry and is reporting on testing and treatment of syphilis.
    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication

    70%

    The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
    (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

    A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

    Syphilis cases surging in Florida, data shows

    WESH News (Central Florida Local News Source) Paola Tristan Thursday, 22 February 2024 03:21
    • Unique Points
      • Syphilis cases in Florida have surged and reached their highest levels in decades for 2022.
      • The rise in syphilis has coincided with a spike in congenital syphilis cases, which is when a mother with untreated syphilis passes the infection to her infant.
      • More than 10,000 women who gave birth in 2022 had syphilis.
      • The CDC estimates that nearly 3,800 babies were born with congenital syphilis in January of this year (a ten-fold increase over the past decade), causing 282 stillbirths and infant deaths.
      • Testing is becoming harder to come by for vulnerable populations because free test clinics including some Planned Parenthood clinics were defunded by Trump administration policies.
      • Doctors test and treat syphilis through a two-step process: screening followed by confirmation of the infection. If it goes untreated, it can lead to severe health problems like miscarriage, preterm birth and stillbirth.
      • The signs and symptoms of syphilis happen over time with different stages including primary, secondary and latent syphilis which can cause neurological symptoms, blindness damage to internal organs including the heart.
      • Maternal syphilis rates between 2021-2022 were highest in South Dakota where case rate increased more than 400% since 2016 followed by Mississippi and Louisiana.
      • The U.S came close to eradicating syphilis, but rates of the disease began to creep up in the early 2000s and haven't been able to slow down since with an access issue being one of the main drivers behind this rise.
      • Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can be passed from mother-to-baby during pregnancy. It can happen during vaginal birth as well if there is direct contact with a sore.
      • The recommendation for pregnant women to get screened twice, once in the first trimester and again later in pregnancy.
      • Accessibility issues including lack of insurance or limited healthcare access are some of the barriers that prevent high-quality prenatal care which can lead to untreated syphilis infection.
      • Systemic racism also plays a role as it affects women's ability to get proper medical attention, leading to higher rates of congenital syphilis among American Indians and Alaska Natives.
      • Hospitals are closing down units due to nursing shortages and provider shortages which can lead to maternity care deserts where there is limited access to healthcare providers or hospitals.
      • The biggest increase in syphilis was seen among those who did not receive prenatal care at all, but it still increased for expecting mothers who began care in the first trimester.
      • Timing and testing are crucial as no testing or late testing can lead to untreated syphilis infection.
    • Accuracy
      • The US is dealing with an epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases including syphilis.
    • Deception (50%)
      The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that syphilis cases are surging in Florida and reaching their highest levels in decades for 2022. However, the data provided only shows a significant increase from 1830 to 1976 cases reported between 2018 and 2021 respectively. This is not accurate as it implies that syphilis cases have been steadily increasing over time when in fact they decreased slightly before spiking again. Secondly, the article states that Orange County had the sixth-highest syphilis rate in the state for 2022 but fails to mention any other counties or regions with higher rates. This is misleading as it creates a false sense of urgency and importance without providing context on how significant this number actually is. Lastly, while the article mentions that testing and prevention can help lower syphilis cases, it does not provide any specific information about these methods or their effectiveness in reducing transmission.
      • The sentence 'syphilis cases are surging in Florida and reaching their highest levels in decades for 2022'
    • Fallacies (85%)
      The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention without providing any context or analysis. They also use inflammatory rhetoric when describing the rising number of syphilis cases as a 'public health crisis'. Additionally, there are several instances where the author presents information in a way that creates an emotional response rather than presenting it objectively.
      • The U.S. is dealing with an epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases including syphilis.
    • Bias (85%)
      The article contains a statement that the U.S is dealing with an epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases including syphilis which implies bias towards political ideology and religious beliefs.
      • SYPHILIS CASES ARE SPIKING, REACHING THEIR HIGHEST LEVELS IN DECADES FOR 2022.
        • ]U.S IS DEALING WITH AN EPIDEMIC OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES[
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
          Paola Tristan Arruda is a reporter for WESH 2 and has reported on syphilis cases in Florida. She may have conflicts of interest with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as she reports on their data regarding syphilis cases in Orange County, where her employer, the Orange County Health Department, is responsible for tracking such cases.
          • Paola Tristan Arruda reported on a recent increase of syphilis cases in Florida. She cited data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which tracks these cases nationwide.
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
            The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of syphilis in Florida as they are reporting for WESH 2 which is based in Orange County and may have an agenda to promote or downplay the severity of syphilis cases in their area. Additionally, Dr. Rajiv Bahl who was quoted in the article has a professional affiliation with the Orange County Health Department which could compromise his objectivity.
            • Dr. Rajiv Bahl who was quoted in the article has a professional affiliation with the Orange County Health Department which could compromise his objectivity.
              • The author is reporting for WESH 2 which is based in Orange County and may have an agenda to promote or downplay the severity of syphilis cases in their area.

              81%

              The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
              (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

              A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

              OPINION: Alaska’s syphilis spike should concern us all

              Alaska Dispatch News Claudia Haines Monday, 19 February 2024 00:00
              • Unique Points
                • Alaska has experienced a spike in syphilis cases affecting pregnant people and their babies.
                • The estimated 200,000 or more Alaskans of reproductive age who are sexually active should be tested for syphilis if they are unsure of their status.
                • Everyone should get retested each time they have a new sexual partner, and every 3-6 months if they have multiple partners.
                • STIs such as syphilis can be treated in most cases with antibiotics, but many Alaskans may not get tested or re-tested for STIs due to barriers such as housing insecurity and homelessness, unreliable transportation, sexual assault or intimate partner violence, lack of insurance coverage and access to contraception.
                • The state's epidemiology team identified several barriers faced by the increasing number of people testing positive for syphilis and birthing babies with congenital syphilis that limit their access to care including housing insecurity and homelessness, unreliable transportation, sexual assault or intimate partner violence, lack of insurance coverage and limited access to contraception.
                • The state needs multiple solutions such as infrastructure support for ongoing prevention, testing and treatment for all Alaskans at risk for becoming infected with syphilis; cultural change to destigmatize reproductive health care and sexual health education; immediate action to save the lives of loved ones and neighbors.
                • Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic is collaborating with partner social service and health organizations as well as state agencies on solutions that combat health inequity on the Kenai Peninsula over the long-term, improve reproductive and sexual health of individuals, their families, whole communities today.
                • The clinic provides STI testing and treatment along with contraception access to where neighbors need care regardless of ability to pay.
                • KBFPC's outreach team is providing critical health information at community education events in select middle and high schools ensuring Alaskans know about important reproductive and sexual health topics, including STI prevention.
                • If you are sexually active, get tested for syphilis by practicing safer sex using condoms.
                • If you are pregnant talk to a medical provider about prenatal care throughout your pregnancy.
                • Contact local Public Health Centers or KBFPC for recommendations on affordable STI testing and prenatal care.
                • KBFPC offers services at locations near you on the Kenai Peninsula.
              • Accuracy
                No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
              • Deception (80%)
                The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author uses sensationalism by stating that syphilis has expanded its reach to affect a growing number of pregnant people and their babies. This statement implies that there was previously no cases of syphilis among pregnant women or children, which is not true. Secondly, the article makes it seem like everyone should be tested for syphilis regardless of whether they are unsure about their status or not. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who have been previously diagnosed with syphilis do not need to be retested unless there is a reason to suspect that they may have been reinfected. Thirdly, the article implies that everyone should get tested every time they have a new sexual partner or every 3-6 months if they have multiple partners. However, according to the CDC, people who are in long-term monogamous relationships do not need to be retested unless there is a reason to suspect that they may have been reinfected. Finally, the article uses emotional manipulation by stating that everyone should get tested and help prevent the spread of syphilis by practicing safer sex and using condoms. This statement implies that people who do not practice safe sex are responsible for spreading syphilis, which is not true.
                • The author states that
              • Fallacies (85%)
                The article contains several logical fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing Dr. Anne Zink's recommendation without providing any evidence or context for her expertise in the matter. Additionally, the author commits a false dilemma by presenting only two options: either everyone gets tested for syphilis or no one does, ignoring other potential solutions such as education and prevention efforts. The article also contains inflammatory rhetoric by describing syphilis as a
                • Bias (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                  Claudia Haines has a conflict of interest on the topic of syphilis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as she is an author for Alaska's largest newspaper. She also has a personal relationship with Dr Anne Zink, who is the Director of Public Health at Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic (KBFPC), which provides reproductive health care services to Alaskans. Haines mentions that her own family members have used these clinics and she may be biased towards them.
                  • Claudia Haines is an author for Alaska's largest newspaper, the Anchorage Daily News (ADN).
                    • Haines has a personal relationship with Dr Anne Zink, who is the Director of Public Health at Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic (KBFPC), which provides reproductive health care services to Alaskans.
                      • Haines mentions that her own family members have used these clinics and she may be biased towards them.
                      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                        Claudia Haines has a conflict of interest on the topic of syphilis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as she is an author for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She also has a financial stake in reproductive health care, congenital syphilis, barriers to care, Alaska, pregnant people and their babies and whole families , drug use, insurance coverage, contraception primary care in general prenatal care health inequity Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic (KBFPC) fly-in clinics bookmobiles pop-up stores and restaurants health education events middle schools Alaskans of all ages reproductive and sexual health topics.
                        • Claudia Haines is an author for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
                          • She has a financial stake in reproductive health care, congenital syphilis, barriers to care, Alaska,