Green October: Importance of Syphilis Prevention and Early Testing

October Testing Drives and Regional Caseloads

Health departments across Brazil rolled out rapid-testing initiatives and awareness campaigns under the banner of “Outubro Verde” to combat rising syphilis transmission. In Goiânia, the Municipal Health Secretariat (SMS) reported 2,642 cases of acquired syphilis in 2026, alongside 130 cases of congenital transmission, according to figures covered by GYN Noticias. These numbers follow 4,636 acquired cases and 192 congenital cases recorded across the capital in 2025. To address these numbers, Goiânia scheduled mobile testing events, including an operation near Parque Vaca Brava and at the Centro de Saúde São Francisco, with additional events planned for the city’s northwest region. The next activity publicized by authorities is scheduled for October 17, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., located on Avenue T-3 next to Vaca Brava Park and at the São Francisco Health Center, with testing also available at the Specialized Care Service and Testing and Counseling Center (SAE-CTA) in Jardim Cidade and at urgent and emergency care units. Flávio Toledo, the superintendent of health surveillance for SMS, noted that many individuals remain unaware that they are infected. Meanwhile, the Secretariat of State for Health in Piauí (Sesapi)—acting in partnership with the State Testing and Counseling Center (CTA), civil society organizations, and the Municipal Health Foundation (FMS)—scheduled free rapid testing for syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C on October 15 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Praça Pedro II in central Teresina, as reported by Portal R10. The state agency also planned a clinical management training session for health professionals on the morning of October 29 at the auditorium of the Dona Evangelina Rosa New Maternity Hospital in Teresina, addressing the clinical management of syphilis in pregnant women and congenital syphilis for Unified Health System (SUS) personnel, including maternity teams, reference hospitals for childbirth, primary care services, and regional health offices. In municipalities such as Água Boa, local health officials directed residents to Family Health Strategy units and specialized care services to obtain free screenings through the Unified Health System (SUS), as detailed by Agua Boa News. In Água Boa, residents should visit their reference Family Health Strategy unit or the Specialized Care Service, annexed to UPAM, to undergo testing and receive necessary guidance.

Screening Recommendations and Transmission Risks

Medical experts emphasize that syphilis can remain asymptomatic for long periods, making routine annual screening necessary for all sexually active adults. Isadora Hallal, an infectious disease specialist at the Maria Aparecida Pedrossian University Hospital (Humap-UFMS), explained in reports covered by Campo Grande News that symptoms evolve through distinct phases and can disappear temporarily, leading infected individuals to mistakenly assume natural recovery. The campaign also highlights that the condition is curable, with treatment provided at no cost through the Unified Health System. “The person may feel healed, but the infection remains in the organism,” Hallal stated, noting that initial signs often include a painless genital sore known as a hard chancre, which can easily go unnoticed in locations such as the cervix or inside the vagina. Untreated infections can progress to affect the nervous system and the heart. For pregnant women, who require heightened care during pregnancy, the risks extend to the fetus, carrying probabilities of miscarriage, premature birth, fetal death, and congenital syphilis, which can compromise the baby’s health. Clinical guidelines recommend testing during the initial prenatal consultation, at the start of the third trimester, and immediately prior to delivery. Benzathine penicillin remains the primary treatment protocol recommended by the Ministry of Health, available at no cost through public health facilities, while patients must follow treatments correctly and respect intervals between doses when multiple applications are required.