Six babies die from congenital syphilis in Queensland since 2024

Six Queensland babies have died from congenital syphilis since 2024, with one death recorded in 2026, according to new state health data. Fifty-five pregnant women have been diagnosed with the infection so far this year. Congenital syphilis occurs when the bacterial infection passes from mother to baby in the womb. Doctors say early diagnosis and treatment with penicillin lead to excellent outcomes, but untreated cases can cause stillbirth, death shortly after birth, or lifelong disabilities including blindness and developmental delays. Australia's Chief Medical Officer declared syphilis a national significance incident in August 2025. Queensland has recorded 1,126 infectious syphilis cases this year, with First Nations infants comprising 65 percent of congenital cases since 2011.