​​Fighting Syphilis among Native Americans in South Dakota

Hopefully, Governor Kristi Noem is already busy dealing with this issue!

"... From only 41 syphilis cases in 2016 to 874 in 2021, South Dakota has seen syphilis cases skyrocket in just a few years. The largest spike occurred between 2020’s 100 cases to 2021’s 874. ..." (South Dakota Department of Health)

"... As syphilis cases surged in South Dakota late last year, four out of every five people who tested positive in the state were Native Americans.

Of the 81 babies born with congenital syphilis between 2021 and mid-2023, 90% were born to Indigenous mothers. 

And yet: The Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board has faced an uphill battle obtaining critical health data from federal and state agencies—rendering tribe leaders unable to activate a response.

State health departments are supposed to share data with Tribal Epidemiology Centers, as with any other health department. But they often don’t, tribal health leaders say. 

And the inability to access information has “felt like just one more challenge to tribal sovereignty.” ..."

Global Health NOW: Pervasive Food Poisoning; ​​Fighting Syphilis—and Fighting for Tribal Sovereignty; and There’s Gaming, and Then There’s Excel-ing