Six Queensland babies die from preventable syphilis infections in three years

At least six babies have died in Queensland in less than three years after contracting syphilis in the womb, according to new data from Queensland Health.

The data shows that 55 pregnant women have been diagnosed with the sexually transmitted disease so far this year, and six babies have developed congenital syphilis — where the bacterial infection was passed from mother to baby. One Queensland baby died from the preventable condition in 2026, three died in 2025, and two in 2024.

Tragic but preventable

Brisbane-based infectious disease and public health physician Candice Holland said many babies born with congenital syphilis die shortly after birth. Some babies with syphilis are also stillborn.

"It is a very tragic, but a very preventable, infection in pregnant women," she said.

Dr Holland said babies who survived could be left with lifelong health conditions such as blindness, deafness, developmental delays, and problems with their bones and internal organs.

"It's really important that we diagnose that syphilis infection if it occurs in pregnancy as early as possible so that we can reduce the risk of those longer-term complications in the baby," she said.

Testing and treatment

Women are recommended to be tested for syphilis three times during pregnancy. A simple blood test can detect the disease. Dr Holland said if women infected during pregnancy received appropriate treatment, they "have excellent outcomes for themselves and their babies".

But without testing, cases could be easily missed. "They can have a small lesion which may go unnoticed because it usually doesn't cause any pain," she said.

"That can disappear on its own and then later, people can either have no symptoms for a long time, or they can get symptoms which can look like a lot of other infections, like influenza. They can have just swollen glands, rash, fevers and just feel generally unwell."

Dr Holland said people could pass the infection on even when they were not experiencing any symptoms.

National significance

Australia's Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd declared syphilis a communicable disease incident of national significance in August last year amid ongoing high case numbers and concerns about congenital syphilis.

"We share a big burden of that in Queensland," Dr Holland said.

So far in 2026, 1,126 cases of infectious syphilis have been diagnosed in Queensland — about 20 per cent more than the average for the past five years at this stage of the year.

Since 2011, Queensland Health data shows First Nations infants make up 65 per cent of congenital syphilis numbers, accounting for 31 cases.

Robert Monaghan, who manages the First Nations Research Unit at the Kirby Institute, based at the University of NSW, said geographical isolation, shame and stigma could impede diagnoses.

"The outcomes are dire for some of our children," he said.

"In 2026, if we're looking at babies dying because of treatable diseases, it's just not acceptable in Australia. We need to be doing more. We need to be investing more. We need culturally appropriate services that are designed, delivered by First Nations people."

Call to action

Queensland Health's Communicable Diseases Branch executive director Olivia Williams recommended that sexually active people should consider a full sexual health screen every six to 12 months, or with every new partner.

Dr Williams said when someone was diagnosed with syphilis, it was important their sexual partners were notified so they could be tested and treated, if necessary, to prevent ongoing transmission.

"In Queensland, we have an action plan that really focuses on increasing awareness for the general public, increasing education, and training for clinicians, and improving access to testing and treatment," she said.