Six Infants Die of Syphilis, Health and Medical Professionals Urge Awareness and Funding For Sexual Health Education

The death of six infants due to congenital syphilis in Queensland, Australia since 2011 is alarming medical professionals these days about the needed education regarding sexual health. They are calling out to help fund the awareness of this said sexually transmitted disease.

In a report posted by ABC Australia on Feb. 9, an ongoing epidemic of syphilis has made medical groups realized that funding sexual health education to make people aware of this disease should be done immediately. Syphilis is one of the sexually transmitted diseases that could be prevented.

Northern Australia is currently known for having a syphilis epidemic since 2014 and education for the awareness of STD has been cut in that area. Not only did six babies died of syphilis, but there are also still three out there suffering from chronic birth defects.

The Northern part of Australia has now about 800 syphilis cases and there is a possibility that its statistics could even go higher if no proper education for sexual health is implemented sooner.

But Australia is not the only country that has this issue, as the health department in Minnesota in the U.S. has also addressed this concern. According to the SouthernMinn.com, the increase of syphilis cases in their area has been seen mostly on pregnant women regardless of their race or ethnicity.

When the Health Department of Minnesota released a statement last week on the data collected back in 2015 regarding the alarming number of people affected by syphilis, Public Health Director Amy Roggenbuck said that it is about time for everyone to become aware of the situation. Women with syphilis went up to 63% from 2014.

Roggenbuck believes that telling the public this ongoing issue about this dangerous sexually transmitted disease would not only make them aware of it, but would even make them protect themselves from acquiring it.

In Roggenbuck's own words, "That [way] we, as communities, can take a proactive, preventive approach to this."