There's been a spike in the number of Victorian babies born with syphilis and the condition has been linked to stillbirths.
Over the past six years, 14 babies were born with the condition including six who were stillborn.
The sexually transmitted disease can pass from a mother to baby through the placenta or during birth and poses significant health risks for infants.
The increase in congenital syphilis coincides with a rise in the number of women of child bearing age diagnosed with the disease.
There were 184 recorded cases in Victorian women aged 15-49 in 2021, up from 95 in 2016.
According to the Victorian Department of Health, risk factors include pregnant women who have more than one sexual partner, have other sexually transmitted diseases, who inject or use drugs, have a sexual partner from overseas, those whose male partner also has sex with men and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
Prior to 2017, there were just two cases of congenital syphilis recorded in Victoria over the previous 25 years.
Syphilis during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirth, premature birth and the likelihood of a baby developing serious medical conditions impacting their central nervous system, eyes, ears, bones and teeth.
All pregnant women must be tested during their first trimester and the condition can be easily treated with long acting penicillin.
