The Ministry of Health and Wellness is once again informing the public that cases of syphilis are increasing in Barbados and is advising all adults to take practical steps to protect their health through safer sexual practices, regular testing and prompt treatment.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that is both preventable and curable, but many people may not realise they are infected as symptoms can be mild or absent in the early stages.

National surveillance data indicate that there were 156 new cases of syphilis in 2025 compared with 107 in 2024, representing an increase of approximately 46 per cent. The majority of new syphilis cases occurred in the 20-29 age group in 2024 (40.2 per cent) and 2025 (37.8 per cent). Males accounted for 61.0 per cent of the cases in this age group in 2025 and 72.1 per cent in 2024.