Japan continues reporting high syphilis numbers in 2024
The Japan National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), again reported high numbers of cases of syphilis in 2024, according to their updated data published Tuesday.
In 2024, 14,663 cases were reported, just shy of 2023 case total of 14,906 total cases.
Tokyo reported the most cases at 3,703, followed by 1,906 in Osaka, 880 in Fukuoka, 846 in Aichi and 792 in Kanagawa. However, prefectures across the country have seen spikes in infections as well.
The Japanese government has mandated that all diagnosed cases of syphilis be reported under the Notifiable Disease Surveillance law since 1948. The annual number of reported syphilis cases throughout the country ranged from 500 to 900 between 2000 and 2012. However, the number has indicated a steady and alarming increase since then: 1228 in 2013, 1661 in 2014, 2690 in 2015, 4575 in 2016, 5826 in 2017, 7002 in 2018, 7,983 cases in 2021, 13,228 in 2022 (the first time eclipsing the 10,000 mark).
Syphilis cases saw a 15-times increase over the past decade and a half. In addition, incidents have increased 10 times among men and 23 times among women
Syphilis is a bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum, which results in substantial morbidity and mortality. It is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is generally transmitted by contact with infectious sores on the genitals, anus, rectum, lips, or mouth; through blood transfusions, or through mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy.
Syphilis can be treated with antibiotics such as penicillin, but if left untreated, it can cause damage to the heart, blood vessels and nervous system after several years or even decades. A patient could become infected again, so early treatment with antibiotics is necessary.