February 1, 2024
On January 25, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported that in 2023 Minnesota witnessed the highest number of congenital syphilis cases in at least 40 years.
The MMA and MDH will host a virtual forum on “Rising Congenital Syphilis in Minnesota: A Special Briefing for Health Care Providers” tomorrow (February 2) from noon to 1 pm. Register here.
Twenty-nine cases of congenital syphilis (including three stillbirths) were reported in Minnesota in 2023. Congenital syphilis occurs when a pregnant person passes their syphilis infection on to their fetus during pregnancy, which can cause severe complications such as miscarriages, stillbirths, premature birth and brain/nerve problems (including blindness and deafness).
Due to the rising number of cases, MDH has updated screening guidelines for healthcare providers. The updated recommendations state that all pregnant people should be screened at least three times during pregnancy, including at the first prenatal encounter (ideally during the first trimester), around 28 weeks of pregnancy and at delivery.
Minnesotans of all races, ethnicity, gender and/or sexual orientations are increasingly impacted by syphilis. However, people who identify as American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN), Black and Latin/Hispanic are disproportionally impacted by syphilis due to a combination of factors affecting the social determinants of health, including differences in health insurance coverage, employment status, and access to preventive, screening, and curative services.
MDH is working directly with healthcare providers to improve understanding of signs and symptoms, routine screening, treatment and prevention of congenital syphilis. Because some pregnant people may not access traditional prenatal care, MDH will work with additional partners to increase screening for syphilis through partnerships with emergency departments, urgent care centers, correctional facilities, harm reduction/treatment providers and primary care clinics.
Additional data and information about syphilis can be found on the MDH website: Syphilis.
July 10, 2025
With the passage of President Trump’s budget bill, many in healthcare are wondering how it will affect the practice of medicine in the United States, and how it will impact the health of Minnesotans.
July 10, 2025
With an overwhelming 90% vote of support, Allina Health physicians, physicians’ assistants, and nurse practitioners voted to authorize a strike if the members of the Doctors Council – SEIU and Allina cannot reach a deal.
July 10, 2025
The Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) Equitable Health Care Task Force is seeking public comment on its draft recommendations for improving health equity across the state.