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Virginia sees highest number of syphilis cases in more than three decades

This 1966 microscope photo made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a tissue sample with the presence of numerous, corkscrew-shaped, darkly-stained, Treponema pallidum spirochetes, the bacterium responsible for causing syphilis. U.S. health officials on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022, are calling for a new push to prevent sexually transmitted diseases spurred in part by a 26% increase in syphilis cases last year. (Skip Van Orden/CDC via AP) (Skip Van Orden, CDC)

The Commonwealth is seeing the highest number of syphilis cases reported in more than three decades, according to the Virginia Dept. of Health.

In the first four months of this year, reported cases of syphilis were 22% higher than in the same timeframe in 2022.

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Now, doctors are concerned with how its infecting more women, and their babies.

“Timely diagnosis is very important to have enough time to desensitize and treat to prevent adverse health outcomes for the baby,” said Oana Vasiliu, the STD prevention and surveillance director for VDH.

The easiest way to find out if you have an infection is to get tested.

You can get tested at the health department or ask your doctor.