A physician and former public health official has described congenital syphilis rates as among the most troubling issues he has encountered across a career spanning both clinical medicine and public health policy, according to an opinion piece published by STAT News on June 17, 2026.
A Career-Spanning Concern
The piece was authored by Jeffrey D. Klausner, who draws on his dual background as a practicing physician and former public health official to frame the issue as both a clinical and a systemic failure. Congenital syphilis occurs when the bacterial infection is transmitted from a pregnant person to the fetus, and it can result in serious health consequences for newborns.
As a physician and former public health official, I have never been more concerned about those rates of congenital syphilis.
The strength of that framing — anchored in decades of professional experience — signals that the concern extends beyond routine fluctuations in disease surveillance data.
Why Congenital Syphilis Matters
Congenital syphilis is considered a largely preventable condition. Syphilis in pregnant individuals can be detected through standard prenatal screening, and effective antibiotic treatment exists. Public health researchers have long regarded rising case counts as an indicator of gaps in prenatal care access, screening coverage, or treatment follow-through rather than a failure of medical science.
The condition has attracted renewed attention from infectious disease specialists and maternal health researchers in recent years, with case counts in several countries trending upward after a period of relative stability. Klausner's opinion piece, published by the health and science outlet STAT News, adds a prominent clinical voice to that ongoing discussion.
Policy Dimensions
Klausner's background in public health policy appears central to the framing of the piece. The title references both mothers and babies alongside policy, suggesting the argument engages not only with clinical realities but with the structural and governmental responses — or lack thereof — that shape how congenital syphilis rates are tracked and addressed at a population level.
The piece does not appear to present new data or original research findings; rather, it reflects an experienced practitioner's interpretation of existing trends and their implications for public health infrastructure.
STAT News, which published the piece, is a health and medicine news organisation known for covering policy, science, and clinical developments across the biomedical field.