Primary and Secondary Syphilis –– United States, 2005-2013

This report contains CDC analysis of notifiable disease surveillance data on reported syphilis, including patient demographics and stage of syphilis as reported by health departments to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) for cases diagnosed during (2005-2013). Trends in annual primary and secondary syphilis were analyzed for 2005-2013; geographic trends were analyzed by US census region, age group, and NNDSS racial/ethnic categories. Findings indicate that during 2005-2013, primary and secondary syphilis rates increased among men of all ages and races/ethnicities all across the United States. During 2005-2013, the number of primary and secondary cases reported almost doubled from 8,724-16,663 and annual rate increased from 2.9 to 5.3 per 100,000 population. MSM contributed the majority of male primary and secondary syphilis during 2009-2012. Among women rates increased during 2005-2008 and decreased in 2009-2013.