Bill To Combat Congenital Syphilis Moving Through Oklahoma Capitol

A new bill is making its way through the Oklahoma Legislature to combat congenital syphilis, which is when syphilis is passed from mother to child and can lead to infant death.

Senate Bill 292, which just came out of an Oklahoma Senate committee, would mandate additional syphilis testing for pregnant women.

The number of cases of congenital syphilis in Oklahoma risen in recent years.

"We are actually seeing babies that are being born dead and that is the biggest issue right now," William Andres from the Oklahoma State Department of Health said.

Andrews said those who survive suffer lifetime problems such as learning disabilities or hearing and vision problems.

The sexually transmitted infection was almost eradicated decades ago, but in the last decade we have seen a 2,700% increase.