How Serious Is Japan's Syphilis Outbreak? A Decade-Long Resurgence and Its Lessons for the World
Japan has recorded more than 13,000 syphilis cases for a fourth straight year, a more than tenfold rise since 2013, driven by dating apps, a sprawling commercial-sex industry and delayed care. Latest official data show about 5,609 cases in the first half of 2026. With penicillin in short supply and cases climbing worldwide, the outbreak is a warning for other countries.