Syphilis remains problem in Miss. | clarionledger.com | The Clarion-Ledger

"Syphilis remains problem in Miss.
Department of Health is gaining ground on infant mortality rate

State Health Officer Dr. Ed Thompson has seen progress on the dozen goals he made when he took over as state health officer in 2007.

But one problem still haunts him - control of syphilis. 'We have to keep struggling with that,' he said. 'At least we're not in the top 10 anymore.'

Under Thompson's predecessor, Dr. Brian Amy, Mississippi saw increases in tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases and infant mortality."