Hungary faces syphilis outbreak causing fetal and neonatal deaths

Health Minister Zsolt Hegedűs has warned of a syphilis outbreak in Hungary, noting that the infection is causing preventable deaths among fetuses and newborns. During a conference organized by the Heim Pál National Institute of Pediatrics, the Minister reported that 100 congenital syphilis cases had been recorded by late August 2026.

Statistics indicate a severe situation: in 2025, 91 congenital syphilis cases were registered, leading to 19 intrauterine deaths and seven neonatal deaths. In the first eight months of 2026, an additional 18 fetal deaths and four neonatal deaths were reported. These tragedies have contributed to an increase in the infant mortality rate, which rose to 3.8 per thousand live births in the first eight months of 2026, compared to 3.4 per thousand during the same period the previous year.

The Minister emphasized that these deaths are largely preventable through timely prenatal screening and medical treatment. He also pointed to systemic failures in the healthcare provider network, noting instances where doctors could not directly access screening results within the electronic health system, hindering timely intervention.