>> RATES >> OF CONGENITAL SYPHILIS ARE ON THE RISE IN CHICAGO.

THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAYS IN 2018 THERE WERE 13 CASES COMPARED TO 2022.

WHEN THEY WERE 46 CASES, THAT'S A 254% INCREASE.

AND BETWEEN 2020 2022, 86% OF CASES IN THE CITY WERE AMONG BLACK CHICAGOANS.

IT'S PART OF A NATIONWIDE INCREASE IN CONGENITAL INFECTIONS, PASSED ALONG TO AN INCIDENT DURING PREGNANCY.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT IS DOCTOR MARCELO VEGAS, THE REGIONAL MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION, NORTHERN BUREAU DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST, IF YOU WOULD REALLY EXPLAIN BRIEFLY EXPLAIN FOR US EXACTLY WHAT IS CONGENITAL SYPHILIS AND WHY IS SO HARMFUL TO INFANTS?

>> SECOND DEATH A FOOT BE MUCH ONE THING.

THE FIRE ACTION AND THAT'S NOT CREATE IT AND PASS IT ON TO HER BABY A ALL KINDS CONCERNS IN TERMS 20.

I WAS SITTING ON AVERAGE.

40% OF BABIES, COMPLICATION THAT ARE IMPORTANT WITH WITH AND THE BABY LOOKING NORMAL.

MAKE KNOW, KNOW.

THEY ARE FRIENDS.

DIRECT THAT THERE'S THAT'S AN INFANCY.

REALLY HARD UP TO 40% BABY.

WITHIN BOARD SO FAR.

>> FRACTION OF YEAH.

A LOT OF DIAGNOSES ARE POTENTIALS THERE.

DO WE KNOW DOCTOR WHAT IS BEHIND THIS INCREASE IN CASES?

>> GOING 24 SEVEN-YEAR HIGH UNITED STATES AND INTEREST IMPORTANT HE SAYS, AND IT'S AT REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR SURE IN FRONT OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT KNOW, PARENTS WANT THAT MOST IMPORTANT EVENT PERSPECTIVE, SPECIAL BILITY.

IF YOUR UP YOU INCARCERATION, AND IF THIS PARTIALLY AFFECT PEOPLE OF COLOR, BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES.

AND THEREFORE, IF YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU KNOW, WOMAN CHICAGO, WERE BLACK WOMEN AND EVERY PLACE.

YOU KNOW, WE DO HIV CARE AND THAT PRETTY MUCH REFLECTS.

NUMBER, TALK ABOUT THE FACT MEAN 5 4TH, MAN WHO BEAT HER UP.

AND, YOU KNOW, PROPORTION REPRESENT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE POSITIVE, A 40%.

AND BLACK THEIR COHORTS TERMS BLACK AND WHITE WOMEN.

DOCTOR >> I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK IF THERE ARE THAT A PREGNANT WOMAN BE AWARE OF AND AND ASK FOR A TEST.

>> THAT'S THAT THE HIGH FOR IT ME THAT THE ROAD SINTON AND SO REALLY ALL WOMEN SHOULD BE SCREENED A VERY THEY ARE GETTING PRENATAL CARE.

BUT IF A WOMAN NO DIFFERENT ABNORMAL RASH OUR HANDS AND FEET DEFINITELY GET A TEST IN.

BUT REALLY, SOMETHING THAT CAN GO WITHOUT SYMPTOMS.

AND THAT'S THE SCARY PART.

AND SO REALLY, SCREENING AND MAKING SURE THAT WOMEN ARE FRONT OF WHEN THEY ARE PREGNANT.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

NOT JUST THE BEGINNING OF PRINCIPLE FOR RECORD OF YOU CAN ANY MOMENT.

>> AND DOCTOR, THERE'S UNDERSTANDS A PISTOL IN SHORTAGE, WHICH IS IN EASY TREATMENT FOR FOR SYPHILIS.

BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE PRETTY QUICKLY.

AND THAT COULD BE DIFFICULT WHEN THERE IS A SHORTAGE.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT >> YES, GRAND NATIONAL COUNCIL PARTICULARLY OVER THE FALL AND WINTER MONTHS.

A LOT OF DOCTORS WERE USING A SEWING CREATES A AND SORT OF, YOU KNOW WHAT MARKET SO MUCH THAT.

AND THERE'S SHORTAGE.

AND BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED RATES OF SYPHILIS IN THE COUNTRY BELIEVED TO HAVE AFFECTED THE FINISH OR AGE.

ONLY ONE COMPANY MAKES IN THE UNITED STATES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, FORTUNATE ADVOCACY POINT.

FIRST MET UP WITH THE PRODUCING ENOUGH.

AND SO THEN THE TEAM FOR HIS LIFE, THE ONLY EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR OR WASN'T FOR >> IT IS THERE.

IS ANYTHING THAT PUBLIC HEALTH PROVIDERS SHOULD BE TO TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR PROTESTING IN TREATMENT?

>> HAVE PARTICULARLY.

WE DO NOT HAVE A PREVENTIVE A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND UNITED STATES EFFECTIVE AND UNFORTUNATELY OF COLOR, IT'S GOING TO BLACK COMMUNITIES SPECIALLY LIKE I'M SOUTH SIDE THERE'S MANY AREAS WHERE THERE'S NO ACCESS TO MANY YOU DO CARE MANY PATIENTS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

KNOW REALLY FINDING HERE REALLY HE AN THE PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING THAT OFTEN AND OFTEN DOES COME BACK TO FUNDING.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, I KNOW IMPORTANT YES, AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

DOCTOR, AS WE