PAHO presents regional agreement to eliminate syphilis, a disease that affects 3.4 million people in the Americas – PAHO/WHO
Washington, DC, October 31, 2025 (PAHO) – Syphilis cases in adults increased by 26% between 2020 and 2022 in the Americas, reaching 3.4 million, and another 10% between 2022 and 2024, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
To reverse this trend, PAHO has published a set of 15 key recommendations aimed at eliminating syphilis and congenital syphilis, preventable and curable infections that disproportionately affect pregnant women, newborns, and vulnerable populations.
The agreement arises from a regional meeting held in July 2025 in São Paulo, Brazil, which brought together representatives from 23 countries in the Americas, including ministries of health, academic institutions, civil society organizations and public health agencies. Participants agreed that the region faces a worrying trend that requires a collective response focused on primary health care.
“One of the main factors behind this increase is the gap in access to syphilis prevention, detection and treatment services,” said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO. «Addressing this challenge requires stricter surveillance, timely diagnosis and treatment, and integration of syphilis screening at all levels of the health system, especially in primary care, emergency services, and sexual and reproductive health services,» he added.
The document outlines 15 strategic recommendations to strengthen political and financial leadership, expand access to diagnosis and treatment, improve surveillance systems, and foster community participation. It also calls for inclusive policies, stronger prenatal care, expanded roles for health workers in syphilis management, better laboratory quality control, and better access to confidential and respectful health services.
As a follow-up to this agreement, this week PAHO convened a virtual seminar focused on political commitments and national leadership to accelerate the response to syphilis and congenital syphilis. The event brought together experts, partners and health authorities from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Jamaica and Paraguay, who shared their experiences in innovation and strategies to strengthen technical capacities and advance regional goals to eliminate mother-to-child transmission.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that can be prevented and cured. If left untreated, it can cause serious health problems, including neurological and cardiovascular diseases. It can also be transmitted during pregnancy and cause serious complications such as miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth or congenital anomalies.
PAHO works with countries in the Americas to improve syphilis surveillance and strengthen the capacity of health personnel in prenatal care services. Through its Strategic Fund, the Organization helps Member States acquire rapid diagnostic tests and medicines at lower costs, contributing to the prevention of transmission and related complications. Both syphilis and congenital syphilis are part of PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative, which aims to end more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions by 2030.
