A growing epidemic of congenital syphilis has struck Mississippi, with a staggering 1,000% increase in cases over the past few years. According to recent data from the CDC, the state ranks third in primary and secondary syphilis cases and fifth for gonorrhea.
The medical community has labeled this surge an epidemic, highlighting the need for education and awareness programs. Dr. Kayla Stover, a professor at The University of Mississippi, notes that syphilis is often referred to as “The Great Imitator” due to its minor symptoms in early stages, making it challenging to detect.
If left untreated, syphilis can progress through four stages: latent, secondary, tertiary, and congenital. Congenital syphilis occurs when a child is infected with the disease in utero or during birth, leading to serious complications that can be fatal. The age group most affected by this surge is 14-24 years old, where the threat of infertility looms large.
Deja Abdul-Haqq, director of My Brother’s Keeper, attributes the spike to condomless sex and a lack of information on preventing sexually transmitted diseases. Sex education in Mississippi schools cannot include explicit instructions on condom use, leading to a shortage of knowledge among young people.
Abdul-Haqq emphasizes the need for culturally relevant messaging and access to modern prevention tools like PrEP and Doxy-PEP. However, current campaigns may not be effective in engaging the Black community, which is disproportionately affected by syphilis. Aiming to hit people with data rather than vague messages is crucial to addressing this growing epidemic.
Mississippi’s sex education has been criticized for its lack of progressiveness compared to other states. As medications like PrEP and Doxy-PEP become more accessible, people may become less fearful of unprotected sex, making the need for education and awareness programs even more pressing.
The CDC report highlights Mississippi’s struggles with syphilis as a major public health concern, underscoring the importance of targeted interventions to curb this epidemic.
Source: https://www.wlbt.com/2025/08/05/stds-are-rampant-mississippi-this-one-is-now-considered-an-epidemic