Canada's rate of infectious syphilis rose more than fourfold between 2014 and 2023, according to a new national report from the country's Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Joss Reimer. The report, released on October 28, 2026, also finds that gonorrhea is three times more common than in 2010, more drug-resistant gonorrhea is turning up, and new HIV diagnoses in 2023 and 2024 were higher than at any point in the previous decade. In the United States, the latest CDC data show the opposite trend for most STIs, with one stubborn exception. Here is what both reports say and what it means for dating, testing and relationships.

What Canada's new report found

The State of Public Health in Canada 2026 report covers seven topics, including sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs). Its key STI findings:

• Syphilis up more than fourfold: The infectious syphilis rate rose from 6.8 per 100,000 people in 2014 to a peak of 36.5 in 2022, then 30.5 in 2023 (2023 figures are preliminary). The report says the rate of reported cases declined in 2023, but more data are needed to confirm a trend.
• Congenital syphilis up more than threefold: Syphilis passed to babies during pregnancy or at birth rose from 4.50 per 100,000 live births in 2018 to 14.50 in 2023, after peaking at 32.70 in 2022.
• Chlamydia is still the most reported STI: 323.39 cases per 100,000 people in 2023. Rates dipped in 2020 and 2021, when COVID-19 disrupted testing, and have been rising again.
• Gonorrhea tripled since 2010: 104.95 per 100,000 in 2023, compared with 33.47 in 2010. The report also notes that more antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhea is being detected.
• HIV diagnoses remain elevated: New HIV diagnoses were stable from 2012 to 2019, fell in 2020, rose each year from 2021 to 2023, and decreased slightly in 2024. The report cautions that the 2023 and 2024 rates were still higher than at any point in the previous decade.
• Hepatitis and HPV: Hepatitis B rates are low, and hepatitis C has declined since a 2018 peak. Cervical cancer incidence has stopped declining, and the report says HPV vaccination remains important.

The report links higher rates in some groups to broader forces such as colonialism and discrimination, and to inequities in income, housing, food security and access to health and social services, which create barriers to prevention, testing and treatment. It also notes ongoing efforts to reduce stigma and improve quality of life for people living with these infections.

How the U.S. compares

CDC's latest national data, the 2024 provisional STI surveillance report released in September 2025, shows reported STIs falling for a third straight year:

• Overall: Combined chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis cases fell 9% from 2023, but there were still more than 2.2 million reported cases.
• Chlamydia and gonorrhea: Chlamydia fell 8% and gonorrhea fell 10%.
• Syphilis: Primary and secondary syphilis, the most infectious stages, fell 22%, its second year of decline.
• The exception: Congenital syphilis rose 1.6% to 3,941 cases, the 12th straight annual increase, and is nearly 700% higher than a decade ago. Early syphilis (non-primary and secondary) in women also rose 7.9%.

The two countries define and count cases differently, so their rates aren't directly comparable. The shared lesson is that progress is uneven: overall numbers can improve while some groups, especially pregnant people and women, are still missed. For background on the U.S. trend, see our earlier coverage of rising syphilis cases in the United States.

Why syphilis matters for people living with HIV

CDC says syphilis is curable with the right antibiotics, but treatment may not undo damage the infection has already caused. Syphilis sores are often painless and can go unnoticed, and in the latent stage there are no symptoms at all. Sores or breaks in the skin can also make it easier to acquire HIV.

Two points come up again and again in online support communities:

• U=U and PrEP don't cover other STIs. HIV.gov says an undetectable viral load means a person with HIV will not transmit HIV through sex, but it will not prevent getting or passing on other STIs, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia or syphilis. HIV.gov also notes that PrEP doesn't protect against other STIs. Our U=U explainer covers what undetectable does and doesn't mean.
• You can get syphilis more than once. CDC says having had syphilis does not protect you from getting it again, which is why follow-up testing matters after treatment.

What it means for dating and relationships

• Regular testing is the main tool. CDC's STI screening recommendations call for people with HIV to be screened for syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea at their first HIV evaluation and at least once a year, and more often depending on risk. Sexually active gay and bisexual men are advised to test at least yearly, and every 3 to 6 months if at higher risk, such as when using PrEP. Our guide on how often to get tested walks through the options, and our look at HIV and STI self-testing covers newer at-home choices.
• Condoms help, with limits. CDC says condoms lower the risk of syphilis, but sores can appear in areas a condom doesn't cover.
• Ask about prevention options. Doxy-PEP, an antibiotic taken after sex, is one tool some people use to lower the risk of bacterial STIs. See our coverage of doxy-PEP and syphilis, and talk with a clinician about whether it fits your situation.
• A curable STI is not a character flaw. Stigma keeps people from testing, which is the opposite of what helps. If you test positive, both you and recent partners can get treated. Our guides on how to tell someone you have an STI and handling STD stigma in dating can help with those conversations.
• Date safely and on your own terms. Share health details when you're ready; disclosure expectations and legal duties differ by state and country. When meeting someone new, meet in a public place, verify who they are, and make sure every step is consensual.

Quick FAQ

Is syphilis curable?
Yes. CDC says syphilis can be cured with the right antibiotics from a health care provider, though treatment may not repair damage that has already happened. See which STDs are curable and which are permanent.

Does an undetectable viral load protect me from syphilis?
No. Undetectable means you won't transmit HIV through sex, but HIV.gov says it doesn't prevent other STIs, including syphilis.

If U.S. syphilis cases are falling, is testing less important?
No. CDC still counted more than 2.2 million chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis cases in 2024, and congenital syphilis kept rising. Many infections cause no symptoms, so testing is the only way to know.

How often should people living with HIV get tested for syphilis?
CDC recommends syphilis screening at the first HIV evaluation and at least once a year, and more often depending on risk. Your HIV care provider can suggest a schedule that fits you.

The bottom line

Canada's new report shows syphilis more than four times as common as a decade ago, gonorrhea tripled since 2010 and HIV diagnoses still elevated. U.S. numbers are moving in a better direction, but congenital syphilis keeps climbing. For anyone dating, the takeaway is the same on both sides of the border: test regularly, talk openly and treat a positive result as a health issue, not a judgment. If you're looking for people who understand life with HIV, herpes or another STD, explore STD dating on MeetPositives.

Sources

• Public Health Agency of Canada. Chief Public Health Officer of Canada's Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2026. Published October 2026.
• Public Health Agency of Canada. "Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada on the Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2026." October 28, 2026.
• CDC. "Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance, 2024 (Provisional)." September 2025.
• CDC. "About Syphilis" (January 30, 2025).
• CDC. "STI Screening Recommendations," Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021.
• HIV.gov. "Sexually Transmitted Infections" (updated October 14, 2026).

This article is for general information only and is not medical or legal advice. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Talk with a licensed health care provider about your own situation. Laws vary by state; for legal questions, talk with a licensed attorney.