Idaho public health officials have declared an outbreak of syphilis in the southwest region of the state. They say the typically sexually transmitted infection was detected in two outbreaks in the region. There were 52 syphilis cases in the Central District Health region in 2018. There have been 168 cases of syphilis infection in the region since January 1, 2022, and they include people ranging in age from 15 to 87. Syphilis is a treatable infection with antibiotics. However, if left undetected and untreated, it can cause severe health problems such as vision loss, organ damage, neurological complications and death. Syphilis can also be transmitted to a baby during pregnancy. Such an infection can lead to a “stillbirth, early infant death or long-term health problems for the child.
