Sexually active people are encouraged to receive annual sexual health check-ups. Photo: Liudmila Chernetska.
The “concerningly high” number of syphilis cases across the country has led to the declaration that it is a communicable disease incident of national significance.
Four children across the country have already died this year from the disease (as of 6 August) out of 11 cases of congenital syphilis, and 3546 cases of infectious syphilis have already been recorded.
That’s compared to four infant deaths (from 10 cases of congenital syphilis) and 5968 cases of infectious syphilis in 2024, and 10 infant deaths (from 20 cases of congenital syphilis) and a record high of 6566 cases of infectious syphilis in 2023.
Congenital syphilis occurs when infection passes from a mother to their baby during pregnancy or at birth. Congenital syphilis can cause a miscarriage or stillbirth, or serious health problems in the baby, including brain damage.
Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd said he was extremely concerned about the ongoing impact of the disease on public health.
“Infectious syphilis cases have been on the rise across Australia, resulting in tragic cases of congenital syphilis and infant deaths which might have been prevented,” he said.
“Declaring a [Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance] will bring together national efforts to coordinate an enhanced national response.”
There has been one death due to syphilis recorded in Canberra since 2020, but no cases of congenital syphilis have been reported in the Territory.
An ACT Government spokesperson urged anyone who is sexually active to schedule regular sexual health check-ups.
“In the ACT, syphilis notification rates decreased from 2020 until late 2023. However, in 2024, the ACT saw an increase in case notifications, with more than half of the 63 infectious syphilis notifications occurring in the final quarter of 2024,” they said.
“Anyone who is sexually active is at risk of infection.”
Under the National Syphilis Response Plan, the Health and Community Services Directorate is increasing the number of antenatal syphilis tests and working with the Canberra Sexual Health Centre to create a new database to improve case management and partner notification.
*2025 data is to 6 August.
Five children in NSW have died as a result of congenital syphilis since 2017, and the state’s health service wants to eliminate all congenital syphilis by 2026.
A Syphilis Support Program is being operated through the telephone and internet-based service NSW Sexual Health Infolink (SHIL). It also released a tool in 2024 to help patients and their clinicians use Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP) to reduce the risk of contracting syphilis and chlamydia.
“The best way to avoid STIs is to practice safe sex. Using condoms and water-based lubricant during sex can help to protect you from getting HIV and STIs,” a NSW Health spokesperson said.
“If you are sexually active and having safe sex, you can reduce your risk of getting STIs further by having fewer sexual partners. Some STIs are quite common and, while condoms will help to reduce your risk, they can’t fully protect you.”
Nationally, notifications of the disease among women of reproductive age this year are expected to be similar to those in 2023.
Non-Indigenous men account for almost three-quarters of infectious syphilis cases, but recent reductions in notifications overall are mostly associated with this group of people.
Prof Kidd said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continued to be disproportionately affected by the disease.
“Infectious syphilis notification rates [for this group were] seven times higher than those of non-Indigenous Australians overall in 2024,” he said.
“From the 99 cases of congenital syphilis reported between 2016 and 2024, 33 infants died. And more than half (58 per cent) were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants.”
Prof Kidd wanted to raise awareness among the community and health professionals to ensure more people were tested and treated for the disease.
“Syphilis is preventable and is easy to treat if found early. Testing and treatment are simple and accessible. Congenital syphilis can be completely prevented through early detection and treatment of syphilis in pregnant people and their partners,” he said.
“But, similar to other sexually transmissible infections, syphilis often shows no symptoms, and can go undetected and untreated. This can lead to serious health problems, especially for pregnant people and their babies.
“I urge all Australians who are sexually active to get regular sexual health checks, especially when entering new sexual relationships, during pregnancy or when planning for a baby. And I urge all pregnant people to seek antenatal care throughout pregnancy.”
In ACT, you can be checked for STIs at any GP, the Canberra Sexual Health Centre, Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT, The Junction Youth Health Service, Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, the STRIP Clinic at Meridian, and any walk-in centre (for chlamydia and gonorrhoea checks only).
In NSW, all local health districts have publicly funded Sexual Health Clinics for STI and blood-borne virus testing and treatment, and associated counselling services. No Medicare or private health insurance is required.
