title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
REQUESTING A REPORT FROM THE COOK COUNTY HEALTH AND HOSPITALS SYSTEM AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ON THE CURRENT SYPHILIS STATISTICS, TREATMENT, EDUCATION, AND EFFORT TO REDUCE THE CASES OF SYPHILIS AND CONGENITAL SYPHILIS IN COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause serious health problems without treatment. Syphilis infection develops in stages known as primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary, with each stage presenting different signs and symptoms; and
WHEREAS, congenital syphilis (CS) is a disease that occurs when a mother with syphilis passes the infection on to her baby during pregnancy, affecting the baby depending on how long syphilis has gone untreated, causing among many other health impacts: miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity, low birth weight, or even death shortly after birth; and
WHEREAS, babies born with congenital syphilis can present deformed bones, severe anemia, enlarged liver and spleen, jaundice, brain and nerve problems, like blindness or deafness, meningitis, and skin rashes; and
WHEREAS, according to the Cook County Department of Public Health’s 2020-2021 STI Surveillance Report, published last year, “amid increases across the U.S., the number of Primary and Secondary Syphilis (PSS) cases rose 66% from 167 in 2020 to 277 in 2021. The rates doubled in non-Hispanic-Black/African-American persons, doubled in non-Hispanic Whites, and increased by 52% in Hispanic/Latinx persons. PSS rates are highest in west suburbs and those municipalities in the south bordering the City of Chicago. PSS rates increased 53% in men (sex at birth) and tripled in women (sex at birth).” And
WHEREAS, the CCDPH also reports that congenital syphilis cases more than doubled between 2020 and 2021, an especially worrisome trend considering that “Syphilis can look like so many other conditions. Providers must know how to diagnose, stage and treat syphilis. Writing a prescription is not enough, often, many patients may also need additional support to receive and complete treatment, including help paying for medications in some cases. Syphilis is preventable, treatable, and curable with the right medications given at the right time.” And
WHEREAS, per the CDC, it is possible that a baby with CS won’t have any symptoms at birth. But without treatment, the baby may develop serious problems. Usually, these health problems develop in the first few weeks after birth, but they can also happen years later. Babies who do not get treatment for CS and develop symptoms later can die from the infection. They may also be developmentally delayed or have seizures; and
WHEREAS, per the CCDPH website, last updated August of 2023, the only medication available to treat pregnant people with syphilis and babies with congenital syphilis is in short supply. Pfizer, the maker of this penicillin, anticipates this shortage until early- to mid-2024; and
WHEREAS, also per the CCDPH website, the Department is working to reduce the cases of syphilis by: serving as a technical consultant for test ordering, staging, and current treatment guidelines; contacting and talking with cases, help them to notify partners, and help individuals reduce risk; providing condoms; educating the public, providers and the department; monitoring trends and intervene where possible; and helping people get into primary care; and
WHEREAS, the CDC encourages all pregnant women to be tested for syphilis at the first prenatal visit, since people may have syphilis and not know it, may show no symptoms or symptoms may be very mild or similar to other health problems.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby request that representatives of the Cook County Health and Hospitals System and the Department of Public Health present to this body an updated report on the rates of syphilis and congenital syphilis in Cook County, the shortage of medication and impact on treatment, and their efforts to reduce the incidence of this disease; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners also requests that the CCDPH evaluate and propose education avenues on the spread and symptoms of syphilis for the public and medical workers, including primary doctors, gynecologists, and specialists to help them identify, treat and cure syphilis.
end