The 2024 county rate was the highest since 2019 and the third highest in the past decade.<\/p>\n
Arlington\u2019s higher rate is \u201cinfluenced by factors such as our younger, highly mobile population in a major metropolitan area, and delays in diagnosis that allow infections to spread,\u201d Public Health Director Dr. Deidra Parrish told ARLnow.<\/p>\n
In early January, \u201cwe sent a Provider Letter with updated testing and treatment guidance to all licensed clinicians in Arlington, and followed up with clinic visits to provide education,\u201d Parrish said.<\/p>\n
The county government is also part of the Northern Virginia STI\/HIV Taskforce, which has created tools to help clinicians diagnose, treat and report syphilis.<\/p>\n
Her comments came after a Jan. 27 County Board meeting<\/a>, in which Parrish reported updated statistics on the sexually transmitted infection\u2019s prevalence locally.<\/p>\n She said Arlington is not alone in seeing rising levels of infection.<\/p>\n \u201cRates of syphilis have been rising nationally for more than a decade due in part to reduced funding and attention after cases dropped in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Arlington is seeing similar trends,\u201d Parrish said.<\/p>\n Between 2020 and 2024, syphilis cases rose 42% nationally, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).<\/p>\n Transmitted via unprotected sexual activity, the long-term complications of untreated syphilis can include heart disease, blindness, deafness, paralysis and brain damage. Some people develop a painless sore or rash, but many have no symptoms at all, which contributes to undiagnosed and untreated infections, Parrish said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnyone who is sexually active should receive routine screening for syphilis and other STIs as part of their primary care,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Antibiotics will cure the infection, but there\u2019s no way to repair organs damaged by syphilis, according to the Cleveland Clinic<\/a>, which added:<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important to get tested so you can get treatment in the early stages of the infection. Untreated syphilis can lead to long-term health problems. You should have an open and honest conversation with your healthcare provider \u2014 your provider can help you assess your risk, take precautions and make a plan to stay healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n The infection, caused by a bacterium, can also be passed from pregnant women to their babies, leading to severe illness in newborns.<\/p>\n Rates of syphilis in newborns rose more than 80% between 2020-24, according to CDC data.<\/p>\n \u201cWe strongly recommend that all pregnant women be tested for syphilis at the first prenatal visit, during the third trimester and at delivery,\u201d Parrish said.<\/p>\n Parrish, a board-certified infectious diseases and preventive medicine physician, was appointed to the post<\/a> last fall. She succeeded Dr. Reuben Varghese, who had served as public-health director for 20 years, before his retirement in late 2024.<\/p>\n The Arlington County government\u2019s Department of Human Services provides STI testing and treatment, along with vaccines for hepatitis B, human papillomavirus and monkeypox, at its Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinic<\/a>, located at 2100 Washington Blvd.<\/p>\n Services are offered by appointment Mondays through Thursdays, with charges based on income and insurance. Low-income patients without health insurance can receive free screening and treatment for syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Local-regional-trends-in-syphilis-rates-via-Arlington-County-1.jpg\")
Local, regional trends in syphilis rates (via Arlington County)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/National-trends-in-sexually-transmitted-diseases-via-CDC.jpg\"){kind=spacer}
National trends in sexually transmitted diseases (via CDC)<\/p>\n