Since a large epidemic of syphilis among heterosexual men, women and minorities in the 1980's, syphilis rates decreased to all time lows in the late 1990s. In 2001, Connecticut reported its lowest number of primary and secondary syphilis cases (12). Since that time, rates have increased in Connecticut and nationally with disease occurring primarily among men who have sex with men and men co-infected with HIV. Primary and secondary syphilis cases have increased 76% since 2013 with 30,644 cases reported to CDC in 2017.  This data is updated as of February 2019.

Note. YR 2017 data updated February 2019; YR 2018 data will be updated on: June, 2019

Connecticut Department of Public Health; Connecticut Department of Correction; Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice; State Department of Education; local public health agencies, public health professional associations; faith-based organizations; laboratories; health care providers including primary care and infectious disease physicians, community health centers, college and university health services , and hospitals; health professional associations; health insurers; pharmaceutical companies; community service agencies that address specific populations such as women, youth, homeless people, communities of color, and LGBT populations; organizations and coalitions focused on HIV/AIDS; schools of public health and medicine; HIV/AIDS research programs and institutes; and others.

*Healthcare provider awareness and education about syphilis epidemiology and sexual history taking

*Targeted testing of high risk groups (e.g. men who have sex with men)

*First and third trimester testing of all pregnant women to prevent congenital syphilis.

*Men who have sex with men should be tested at least annually for syphilis, HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

*Offering partner services to all persons diagnosed with primary and secondary syphilis.  Partner services involves interviewing patients to ensure they are treated appropriately and asking them about partners who can be contacted confidentially and offered testing and treatment.  This prevents further spread of the disease.

*Educate health care providers about the epidemic of syphilis among men who have sex with men.

*Educate health care providers and target populations about appropriate testing, available resources, and culturally appropriate prevention, treatment and follow-up interventions.

*Ensure routine syphilis screening of HIV-infected persons, with emphasis on males and men who have sex with men.