Pennsylvania

Syphilis infections are rapidly rising in the Delaware Valley, new CDC data shows

Published

11 months ago

February 5, 2024

Syphilis infections are rapidly rising in the Delaware Valley, new CDC data shows

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In just four years, the rate of syphilis infections has nearly doubled in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and tripled in Delaware.

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that infections are up across the United States, “signaling an urgent need for swift innovation and collaboration” in sexually transmitted infection prevention efforts.

It’s a trend that public health experts call worrying. They are urging for significant investments in sexual health education, testing and treatment to address the problem.

“I think a lot of us think about syphilis as a thing of days of yore, like an old thing that is not really around anymore,” said Dr. Stacey Trooskin, executive medical officer of the Mazzoni Center in Philadelphia. “But we see it in practice all the time, every day. All you have to do is look for it.”

In Pennsylvania, there were 4,486 cases of syphilis in 2022 — a rate of 34.6 cases per 100,000 people. The state’s rate of infection was 18.8 in 2018.

Local and federal health experts attribute the rise in cases to multiple factors: COVID-19 pandemic disruptions to health care screenings, decreased use of condoms among teenagers, and higher sexual health risks associated with drug use.

The early asymptomatic nature of this infection could also contribute to its spread, Trooskin said. People with a syphilis infection may eventually develop painful ulcers, sores and rashes.

“You may not notice that you have a painless ulcer, or perhaps the ulcer is in a place that you can’t visibly see it,” Trooskin said. “And so you don’t know, and it really takes being screened in order to be diagnosed and treated.”

But stigma around sexually transmitted infections continues to be a barrier to screening and testing.

“That somehow people feel that they’ve done something wrong,” Trooksin said. “Or there’s a blame or shame associated with being tested or treated for an STI.”

Syphilis can be easily treated and cured, but when it goes undetected, Trooskin said it can have devastating health effects.

“Not just in pregnant people who then have perinatal exposure for their infants, but also for individuals themselves, it can develop into neurosyphilis,” she said, which is a life-threatening complication to the brain and spinal cord.

Rates of congenital syphilis among infants, which happens when a mother transmits the infection to an unborn baby in utero, are also up in many states, including New Jersey.

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 2 Day results for Dec. 31, 2024

Published

7 hours ago

January 1, 2025

Press Room

The Pennsylvania Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024 results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 31 drawing

13-22-27-29-35, Mega Ball: 01, Megaplier: 2

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 2 numbers from Dec. 31 drawing

Day: 3-3, Wild: 4

Evening: 1-5, Wild: 3

Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 31 drawing

Day: 8-4-1, Wild: 4

Evening: 4-0-8, Wild: 3

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 31 drawing

Day: 4-0-4-7, Wild: 4

Evening: 6-2-3-5, Wild: 3

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from Dec. 31 drawing

Day: 6-5-6-9-5, Wild: 4

Evening: 6-7-3-4-8, Wild: 3

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash4Life numbers from Dec. 31 drawing

10-21-27-31-48, Cash Ball: 02

Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from Dec. 31 drawing

02-04-18-33-38

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Treasure Hunt numbers from Dec. 31 drawing

04-06-08-23-30

Check Treasure Hunt payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Match 6 Lotto numbers from Dec. 31 drawing

12-21-31-32-43-49

Check Match 6 Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Sign the Ticket: Ensure your ticket has your signature, name, address and phone number on the back.
Prizes up to $600: Claim at any PA Lottery retailer or by mail: Pennsylvania Lottery, ATTN: CLAIMS, PO BOX 8671, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
Prizes from $600 to $2,500: Use a Claim Form to claim at a retailer or by mail: Pennsylvania Lottery, ATTN: CLAIMS, PO BOX 8671, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
Prizes over $2,500: Mail your signed ticket with a Claim Form or in person at a Lottery Area Office (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Lottery Headquarters is currently not open to the public. Visit the PA Lottery website for other office locations near you.

When are the Pennsylvania Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 2, 3, 4, 5: 1:35 p.m. and 6:59 p.m. daily.
Cash4Life: 9 p.m. daily.
Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. daily.
Treasure Hunt: 1:35 p.m. daily.
Match 6 Lotto: 6:59 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
Powerball Double Play: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Pennsylvania editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Pennsylvania

New Year’s celebration PEEPSFEST returns for its 16th year in Pennsylvania

Published

14 hours ago

January 1, 2025

Press Room

New Year’s celebration PEEPSFEST returns for its 16th year in Pennsylvania – CBS Philadelphia

Watch CBS News

In the Lehigh Valley, a beloved New Year’s celebration was back for the 16th year.
Nikki DeMentri reports at PEEPSFEST.

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Pennsylvania

Wind advisory issued for part of Pennsylvania for Wednesday and Thursday

Published

23 hours ago

December 31, 2024

Press Room

Wind advisory issued for part of Pennsylvania for Wednesday and Thursday

On Tuesday at 1:47 p.m. a wind advisory was issued by the National Weather Service valid from Wednesday noon until Thursday midnight for Carbon, Monroe and Northampton counties.

The weather service states, “West winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts of 40 to 50 mph expected.”

“Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result,” explains the weather service. “Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution. Secure outdoor objects.”

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

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