Today, I am declaring syphilis a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance (CDINS) within Australia.
Declaring a CDINS will bring together national efforts to coordinate an enhanced national response.
Working closely with the states and territories and other key stakeholders, the Australian Government will coordinate our response and continue our work on key actions in the National Syphilis Response Plan.
Infectious syphilis cases have been on the rise across Australia, resulting in tragic cases of congenital syphilis and infant deaths which might have been prevented.
In 2023, Australia saw:
- 6,566 cases of infectious syphilis – record high notifications
- 20 cases of congenital syphilis, resulting in 10 infant deaths.
In 2024, the number of cases remained concerningly high, with:
- 5,968 cases of infectious syphilis
- 10 cases of congenital syphilis, resulting in 4 infant deaths.
This year, as of 6 August, Australia has already recorded:
- 3,546 cases of infectious syphilis
- 11 cases of congenital syphilis, leading to 4 infant deaths.
In 2025, notifications among women of reproductive age are expected to be similar to 2023 when notifications in this group peaked.
Non-Indigenous men account for almost three-quarters of infectious syphilis cases. Recent reductions in notifications overall are mostly associated with this group.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to be disproportionately affected, with infectious syphilis notification rates 7 times higher than those of non-Indigenous Australians overall in 2024.
From the 99 cases of congenital syphilis reported between 2016 and 2024, 33 infants died – and more than half (58%) were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants.
I am very concerned about the ongoing impact of syphilis on public health.
Syphilis is preventable, and is easy to treat if found early. Testing and treatment are simple and accessible. Congenital syphilis can be completely prevented through early detection and treatment of syphilis in pregnant people and their partners.
But, similar to other sexually transmissible infections (STIs), syphilis often shows no symptoms, and can go undetected and untreated. This can lead to serious health problems, especially for pregnant people and their babies.
By raising awareness among Australians – including healthcare professionals – we will help ensure more people get tested and treated for syphilis, so we can stop the spread of the disease.
I urge all Australians who are sexually active to get regular sexual health checks, especially when entering new sexual relationships, during pregnancy or when planning for a baby. And I urge all pregnant people to seek antenatal care throughout pregnancy.
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