U.S. syphilis cases surge

A scarcity of penicillin to treat a surging number of syphilis cases is so dire that U.S. health officials warn the epidemic of sexually transmitted infection will worsen

Primary and secondary syphilis (most infectious stages of disease)

Men Women

1 Men have sex with men only
2 Men have sex with men and women 
3 Men have sex with women only
4 Men with unknown sex partner

2023: Pfizer says penicillin will be back in stock by second quarter 2024

Disease is completely preventable with Pfizer’s penicillin G benzathine

2000: Syphilis rates are at historic low with just 5,980 reported cases 19,999 18,199 of primary and secondary syphilis

2000 2005 2010 2014 2018 2021

8,274 13,774 19,999 35,063 53, 767
2,448 1,241 1,791 1,800 4,979 12,265
3,532 7,033 11,983 18,199 30,084 41,502
1 16,727
2 2,502
3 11,228
4 11,045

Treponema pallidum: Bacterium that causes syphilis

Source: Centers for Disease Control Pictures: McKesson Corporation, NIAID © GRAPHIC NEWS