Taiwan CDC offers free syphilis tests to under-24s as youth cases rise

Taipei, July 8 (CNA) The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has rolled out free, rapid syphilis tests to people under the age of 24 amid a recent rise in youth cases.

The program, which began on July 1, is available through 13 participating hospitals nationwide, the CDC said Tuesday.

Hospitals involved in the program include Taipei City Hospital and Taipei Veterans General Hospital in Taipei; Taoyuan General Hospital and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taoyuan; Hsinchu Mackay Memorial Hospital in Hsinchu City; and Taichung Veterans General Hospital and Chung Shan Medical University Hospital in Taichung County, according to the CDC.

National Cheng Kung University Hospital and Chi Mei Hospital in Tainan; and Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Municipal Min-Sheng Hospital, and Kaohsiung Medical University Gangshan Hospital in Kaohsiung are also part of the program, the CDC said.

Speaking at a routine news conference on Tuesday, Chan Pei-chun (詹珮君), deputy director of the CDC's Division of Chronic Infectious Disease, said the number of reported syphilis cases among people aged 13 to 24 had increased for four years in a row.

Chan said 4,912 syphilis cases were reported nationwide in the first half of 2025, up 6 percent from the 4,635 recorded during the first half of 2024.

Among people aged 13 to 24, 956 cases were recorded from January to June, a 13 percent year-on-year increase, she said.

In 2024, that age group accounted for 1,773 cases, a 19 percent rise from 1,490 in 2023, Chan said.

In contrast, the number of reported HIV and gonorrhea cases fell compared to the previous year, she said.

Between January and June, 438 new HIV cases were recorded, down from 508, while gonorrhea cases fell from 3,754 to 3,048, Chan said.

Also speaking at the news conference, CDC Deputy Director-General and spokesperson Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) said that the free syphilis testing program has no set deadline or quota.

He added that syphilis progresses through three stages and can cause neurological complications if left untreated.

Lo told CNA that individuals seeking free syphilis testing at one of the 13 participating hospitals would not be required to present a National Health Insurance card to access the service.