Syphilis wave in South Dakota breaks, state touts surveillance push

‘Incredible decline’ after state led nation in new cases

Photo by Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition on Unsplash

A surge in testing and surveillance appears to be turning the tide in the number of syphilis cases reported in South Dakota, which has led the country in the sexually transmitted disease.

Provisional data from the South Dakota Department of Health show a 55 percent decrease in early syphilis cases last year compared to the five-year median. Overall numbers decreased by almost 42 percent.

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