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Australia strengthens its response to syphilis

Australia has strengthened its response to syphilis since the declaration of a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance (CDINS). These efforts include more testing, better support for health workers and targeted programs to help prevent syphilis across Australia.

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On 6 August 2025, the Chief Medical Officer declared syphilis a CDINS Since then, governments, health services and community organisations are working together to reduce transmission and improve health outcomes across Australia.

What has changed

The Australian CDC and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, have taken action to better prevent, detect and treat syphilis, with a strong focus on preventing congenital syphilis and supporting communities most affected.

Key actions include:

  • updating national pregnancy care and syphilis guidelines to recommend universal syphilis testing at 3 stages of pregnancy, helping health professionals to identify and treat infections earlier
  • expanding the national Beforeplay campaign to include messages about syphilis. During the campaign in 2025-26, healthdirect searches for ‘sexual health clinic’ increased by 810% 
  • updating guidance for Medicare Urgent Care Clinics to support testing and treatment for bloodborne viruses and sexually transmissible infections, including offering syphilis testing during pregnancy
  • supporting the Young Deadly Free project and other culturally informed initiatives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
  • working with ASHM Health to deliver training, guidance documents, webinars and clinical resources to help health professionals diagnose and manage syphilis
  • supporting Health Equity Matters to develop resources to inform the men who have sex with men community on the use of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP) to prevent syphilis infection.
  • implementing a $4.4 million investment through 5 Primary Health Networks to test innovative models of antenatal care that includes syphilis testing and treatment for people experiencing complex social factors.
  • Strengthening syphilis monitoring and reporting, including through the release of the National Syphilis Surveillance Annual Report 2025 
  • Working with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to strengthen the health workforce and support culturally safe outreach, education, testing and treatment during pregnancy.

Looking ahead

Syphilis continues to be a major public health issue in Australia. In 2025, there were 5,986 reported cases, up78% from 10 years earlier. There were also 14 cases of congenital syphilis, including 7 infant deaths. By 14 October 2026, health authorities had reported another 12 cases of congenital syphilis and one infant death. Syphilis continues to overly impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The CDC is working with stakeholders to strengthen the national response. This work includes:

  • developing practical tools and guidance to help health practitioners test for, diagnose and treat syphilis, including advice on Doxy-PEP. 
  • assessing new syphilis point-of-care tests, including more accurate tests that can tell the difference between a current and past infection.
  • updating the National Syphilis Response Plan with input from experts, state and territories and community representatives, drawing on the outcomes from the Second National Congenital Syphilis Roundtable.
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