According to the report from World Health Organization, Cuba has become the first country in the world to stamp out transmission of HIV and syphilis from a mother to her child. WHO defines “elimination” of transmission as “reduction of transmission to such a low level that it no longer constitutes a public health problem.”  In 2013, only two babies were born with HIV and five with congenital syphilis.

Around the world, about 1.4 million women with HIV become pregnant every year. If left untreated, there’s a 15-45% chance that they transmit the virus to their child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding, according to WHO. But that risk can drop to as low as 1% if both mother and child are given antiretroviral medication.

Globally, more than 35 million adults and children are living with HIV but the infection rate has slowed significantly, with 2.1 million becoming HIV positive in 2013, down from 2.9 million in 2005.  According to the WHO, the number of children born every year with HIV has almost halved since 2009, to 240,000 in 2013.

What is Syphilis?

• Syphilis is a highly contagious disease spread primarily by sexual activity, including oral and anal sex.
• It is caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspeciespallidum.
• Pregnant women with the disease can spread it to their baby. This disease, called congenital syphilis, can cause abnormalities or even death to the child.
• Syphilis is difficult to diagnose clinically early in its presentation.
• There is no vaccine effective for prevention.
• Abstinence from intimate physical contact with an infected person is effective at reducing the transmission of syphilis, as is the proper use of a latex condom.