Senate Resolution No. 578

BY: Senator RIVERA

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
April 11-17, 2021, as Syphilis Awareness Week in the
State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National STD Awareness Month

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official weeks and months that are set aside to increase awareness of
serious diseases that affect the lives of citizens of New York State;
and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 11-17, 2021, as
Syphilis Awareness Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with
the observance of National STD Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can
cause serious health problems if not treated; and

WHEREAS, Syphilis is treatable with antibiotics prescribed by a
health care provider; and

WHEREAS, Syphilis symptoms can be mild and painless, so many of
those infected may not be aware; and

WHEREAS, Syphilis is divided into stages (primary, secondary,
latent, and tertiary), and at any stage, can cause neurological damage
for the person infected; and

WHEREAS, In the United States, rates of syphilis infection has
increased by 74 percent between 2012 and 2016; and

WHEREAS, One new case of syphilis occurs approximately every 20
minutes; and

WHEREAS, Pregnant women with syphilis can pass along the infection
to their unborn baby, and there has been an 87 percent increase in cases
of congenital syphilis between 2012 and 2016; and

WHEREAS, Having syphilis while pregnant can lead to a low birth
weight baby or other serious complications , and two of every five
infants born with congenital syphilis are stillborn or die prematurely;
and

WHEREAS, The LGBT community can be particularly at-risk for
contracting syphilis, with 58 percent of syphilis cases occurring in men
who engage in intercourse with other men; and

WHEREAS, Men are seven times more likely to contract syphilis than
women; and

WHEREAS, African Americans are five times as likely to contract
syphilis than any other race or ethnicity; and


WHEREAS, The rates of syphilis amongst people ages 65 years and
older have more than doubled between 2012 and 2016; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this
serious disease, and more must be done to increase activity at the
local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 11-17, 2021, as
Syphilis Awareness Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with
the observance of National STD Awareness Month; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.