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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Statement below can also be found here:
<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/06/12/statement-assistant-secretary-health-levine-point-care-testing-syphilis.html">
<span style="font-weight:normal">https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/06/12/statement-assistant-secretary-health-levine-point-care-testing-syphilis.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Wednesday, June 12, 2024</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Statement from Assistant Secretary for Health Levine</span></b>
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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">on Point of Care Testing for Syphilis</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Over the past decade, syphilis rates and case numbers in the U.S. have increased across all populations. In response to this surge in syphilis cases, HHS formed the
</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rC6o6YV8blrEUXATzvacddTKtPoq1fK0UmyWdjZDcjRHtjKl-2BF6ehHwjBq5RIGK-2FPIaLK-2BSqf-2BGFm3j0ooueucLh4jgQSOSdHjxrL7zqavtEEyPICr5VqwR9CQf3dcwPx3A8sNZdgsALoZyDdAVMDUY4-3DGga1_YT6Y2ePIcdRPKYLVvGslXHjmD0MW-2B8ShCVxdLo3FTrFwBLo7CBhnbrVxFhD-2BYLs18F1qXNnSZOjQ-2BTZGfXFkeUzx6t4SO1H9nIjlSbXjqiTrK2xw31G2eKuhRazmzf4a-2FDCvciajyXtATIn1NsSnnaiYQco1JiyBlljTrWxLAA4PKbITNOVcOJVxKIiWeSuCIwL3ImqOHnFVejRGuyqnH8Ji2j4WaS8oSCoE4zkwRlJ5dJ2w8fxtALKsH2y3jatUVLPd8-2BdMR1zePd7Bk-2Fw5x5qb3h-2BzJlwt7cxdkOpKTaKzAzZwJIz-2F1hrREIUgHrHosMaLAiaGQZQEHhAtUKsOpUI3EBoCh2Sm-2BwWijypiem8-3D"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">National
Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis Syndemic Federal Task Force</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> led by HHS
<span style="color:#2E2E2E;background:white">Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine.</span></span>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:10.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#2E2E2E;background:white">Today, this task force issued new
<a name="_Hlk168474315">considerations for health care providers who test patients for syphilis.
</a></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The new HHS document "</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rC2YqRcMqzK7JZB4KkhrWJE47-2Fgsn0ARtNpYW07UH-2BkaPGnrRaiwtTfvCPO2ACleZ1zAXBM07tMAT64PF3Iphfp-2BK4pnIlbasMWanv5ck76tH8moyJRyCXxtMPSSeFMsluaThk2vbdbQ-2BfykwJ-2FicXt8-3DP3XG_YT6Y2ePIcdRPKYLVvGslXHjmD0MW-2B8ShCVxdLo3FTrFwBLo7CBhnbrVxFhD-2BYLs18F1qXNnSZOjQ-2BTZGfXFkeUzx6t4SO1H9nIjlSbXjqiTrK2xw31G2eKuhRazmzf4a-2FDCvciajyXtATIn1NsSnnaiYQco1JiyBlljTrWxLAA4PKbITNOVcOJVxKIiWeSuCIwL3ImqOHnFVejRGuyqnH5RQ43cQ21QdDw0FzjB5tb39nyTWDrHXsO3RHsZGjmFowC5JQGoxK7yCOD7NtMKJ1JVC7iiZUD3YF0wXMaBkRxrBPSDzWq4IDH8WL4A-2BkTfV55o9F0Oozg210B8tKzO25YL4uCeOKgWfMmy2fbrBFZs-3D"><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Considerations
for the Implementation of Point of Care Tests for Syphilis</span></i></a></span><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">,</span></i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">" outlines four main differences between
syphilis point of care tests and laboratory-based serologic syphilis tests and highlights the best settings to consider use of point-of-care tests.<i>
</i>It also examines parameters for point of care testing program implementation and management, provides answers to common questions, and lists links to related resources.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:10.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“<span style="color:black;background:white">Syphilis testing is crucial, as syphilis infections can be difficult to diagnose
because many of those infected may not have symptoms,” said Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MD, Assistant Secretary for Health. “</span>The Food and Drug Administration has authorized two point-of-care tests for syphilis that can provide rapid test results during
the same visit in about 15 minutes. This can help overcome barriers in our ability to timely diagnose patients in communities across the nation.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:10.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Syphilis is curable but has re-emerged as a global public health threat. Since 2012, congenital
syphilis cases have surged in the United States. If untreated, syphilis can seriously damage the heart and brain and can cause blindness, deafness, and paralysis. When transmitted during pregnancy, it can cause miscarriage, lifelong medical issues, and infant
death.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:10.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1C1D1F">Read the new resource “</span><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rC2YqRcMqzK7JZB4KkhrWJE47-2Fgsn0ARtNpYW07UH-2BkaPGnrRaiwtTfvCPO2ACleZ1zAXBM07tMAT64PF3Iphfp-2BK4pnIlbasMWanv5ck76tH8moyJRyCXxtMPSSeFMsluaThk2vbdbQ-2BfykwJ-2FicXt8-3DVyTs_YT6Y2ePIcdRPKYLVvGslXHjmD0MW-2B8ShCVxdLo3FTrFwBLo7CBhnbrVxFhD-2BYLs18F1qXNnSZOjQ-2BTZGfXFkeUzx6t4SO1H9nIjlSbXjqiTrK2xw31G2eKuhRazmzf4a-2FDCvciajyXtATIn1NsSnnaiYQco1JiyBlljTrWxLAA4PKbITNOVcOJVxKIiWeSuCIwL3ImqOHnFVejRGuyqnH-2F4ZwCf1-2FVf-2F0Sm6JwApTnF30xVuv9ainbiob2CTUk6aKDxvhf6F7zxNeS7BlHv3R4YtA7wJi4X-2BbrKVMkt-2BZuC1CR0ArJbCU4oV6pAL1YySGtWSf-2FApyFFc1IE4xaTu5G9pMY1iBEne8uWGvGZAA3s-3D">Considerations
for the Implementation of Point of Care Tests for Syphilis</a>” </span></i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">and sign up for the
</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCya3-2BNrP01xrFFcCH469HBLHT1y1nG0Kyp19IVwbDq3YPMRC9nzlrW42l2qYQ3nYqg-3D-3DpRTM_YT6Y2ePIcdRPKYLVvGslXHjmD0MW-2B8ShCVxdLo3FTrFwBLo7CBhnbrVxFhD-2BYLs18F1qXNnSZOjQ-2BTZGfXFkeUzx6t4SO1H9nIjlSbXjqiTrK2xw31G2eKuhRazmzf4a-2FDCvciajyXtATIn1NsSnnaiYQco1JiyBlljTrWxLAA4PKbITNOVcOJVxKIiWeSuCIwL3ImqOHnFVejRGuyqnH76VGux-2BQDyq5RSlLqyzVeZA1P8v8QSNXYS5TrtysWC8kbtPhO9pHUk6GlB4ct6I0wXOvj4tdnAXZu4RiLSzZLyUSUjCFFveMYXVxHLzWf-2F2cwjdOAqh4GUT-2BMrA3se3ucBpIEB7FnEniC5PYWAzexQ-3D"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Stopping
Syphilis: The HHS Summer Seminar Series</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">. The June 26 webinar will highlight the new point of care testing considerations. Future webinars in this series will cover other important
topics and share knowledge and tools to help find practical solutions to help reverse the syphilis and congenital syphilis epidemic in the United States.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>RECENT PUBLICATION<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:14.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:14.25pt;margin-left:0in">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="https://t.emailupdates.cdc.gov/r/?id=h8bf038cb,1c0f6cde,1c10a4e4&e=QUNTVHJhY2tpbmdJRD1VU0NEQ18xMDU0LURNMTI5MDYwJkFDU1RyYWNraW5nTGFiZWw9TkNCREREJTIwUGFydG5lciUyMEFsZXJ0JTIwNSUyRjIzJTJGMjAyNA&s=-sQX7ymzgn4nic-Ri7h9WPicnL5iKfivKuLUVlN-1vY"><span style="background:white">Identifying
gaps in syphilis treatment and prenatal care among pregnant individuals (contemporaryobgyn.net)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">CDC’s Dr. Kate Miele spoke with
<i>Contemporary OB/GYN</i> about the recently published article <a href="https://t.emailupdates.cdc.gov/r/?id=h8bf038cb,1c0f6cde,1c10a4e5&e=QUNTVHJhY2tpbmdJRD1VU0NEQ18xMDU0LURNMTI5MDYwJkFDU1RyYWNraW5nTGFiZWw9TkNCREREJTIwUGFydG5lciUyMEFsZXJ0JTIwNSUyRjIzJTJGMjAyNA&s=Z-V0lsjM6ldB678snvC_4939R1KOZ0TL9iEQs-CkBXI">
<b>Syphilis Treatment Among People Who are in Six U.S. States – SET-NET, 2018-2021</b></a>. Data from this study shows that fewer than two-thirds of people with syphilis during pregnancy were adequately treated. People without timely prenatal care (at least
one visit more than 30 days before end of pregnancy) or no prenatal care were less likely to be adequately treated. However, nearly one third of those with timely prenatal care were still inadequately or not treated. People with complicated lived experiences,
such as substance use or being unhoused, were twice as likely to receive inadequate or no treatment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:14.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:14.25pt;margin-left:0in">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="https://t.emailupdates.cdc.gov/r/?id=h8bf038cb,1c0f6cde,1c10a4e6&e=QUNTVHJhY2tpbmdJRD1VU0NEQ18xMDU0LURNMTI5MDYwJkFDU1RyYWNraW5nTGFiZWw9TkNCREREJTIwUGFydG5lciUyMEFsZXJ0JTIwNSUyRjIzJTJGMjAyNA&s=OJaz2xlbQI-7LqZhmZS8j5LcgvQwDjKmbmGA1hewGfk">Syphilis
Treatment Among People Who Are Pregnant in Six U.S. States, 2018–2021</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Overall, the data illuminate gaps in prenatal care that can serve as barriers to adequate treatment for syphilis, said Dr. Miele. “Although timely prenatal care remains an important opportunity for getting
people syphilis care, we need to be looking at other opportunities to reach people.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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