Ministry of Health specialist explained the increase in the incidence of syphilis by a new influx of migrants

The chief freelance specialist in dermatovenereology and cosmetology of the Ministry of Health Nikolai Potekaev presented the dynamics of the incidence of syphilis in Russia over the past 20 years. The minimum incidence rates were recorded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. As explained RBC Mr. Potekaev, the increase in the incidence is associated with the return of migrants to the country after the lifting of coronavirus restrictions.

According to Nikolai Potekaev, the number of detected cases of syphilis in Russia was:

• in 2000 – 239.4 thousand;
• in 2005 – 97.9 thousand;
• in 2010 – 63.7 thousand;
• in 2017 – 28.6 thousand;
• in 2018 – 24.5 thousand;
• in 2019 – 22 thousand;
• in 2020 – 15.3 thousand;
• in 2021 – 21.1 thousand;
• in 2022 – 27.8 thousand.

Mr. Potekaev explained the sharp decrease in detected cases in 2020 by the epidemiological situation of COVID-19. That year, he said, the population sought little medical care, and the number of specialized appointments and preventive screenings also decreased. In addition, after migration processes were limited by law, there was a significant decrease in foreign citizens arriving in Russia, who account for a significant part of the detected syphilis cases.

According to the chief freelance specialist in dermatovenereology of the Ministry of Health, the increase from 15.3 thousand cases of syphilis in 2020 to 27.8 thousand in 2022 is associated with leveling the medical and economic consequences of the coronavirus. “The number of migration flows to Russia has again significantly increased, as well as the number of requests for medical care by the country’s permanent population,” he explained.

At the same time, Mr. Potekaev claims that, as a result of the implementation of a number of medical and social programs, there has been a steady decrease in the incidence of syphilis in Russia. He stressed that in comparison with 2000, the number of detected diseases decreased by 8.6 times.

Previously, Medvestnik, citing Rosstat data informedthat at the beginning of 2023, an increase in the incidence of syphilis was again recorded in Russia. In January of this year, at least 2.6 thousand citizens fell ill with syphilis, which is 71% more than in the first month of 2022.

Milena Kostereva