Reporting Syphilis
(Treponema pallidum)

On this page:
What to report
How to report
Who is required to report
Frequently asked questions

What to report

Laboratory confirmed cases of syphilis (Treponema pallidum) and pregnancy in a person infected with syphilis must be reported to MDH within one working day.

Case definitions

• CDC: Syphilis (Treponema pallidum) Case Definitions
  Current case definition for syphilis (Treponema pallidum).

• CDC: Congenital Syphilis (Treponema pallidum) Case Definitions
  Current case definition for congenital syphilis (Treponema pallidum).

How to report syphilis

• Minnesota Confidential Syphilis Report Form
  This disease may be reported using the Minnesota Confidential Syphilis Report Form.
  
  
• Phone
  Any reportable infectious disease may be reported by phone to 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414.

• Chronic Infections in Pregnant Patients
  Pregnancy in a person infected with syphilis should be reported. Please call the Minnesota Department of Health by phone at 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414 to report congenital syphilis.
  

Other reporting: partner notification

• STD/HIV Partner Services Program
  The Partner Services Program offers people who have been diagnosed with HIV or an STD free medical, prevention, and other services, including help with partner notification.

Who is required to report

• Health care practitioners (health care facilities, medical laboratories, and in certain circumstances veterinarians and veterinary medical laboratories) are required to report disease to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) under Minnesota state law.
  • Unless previously reported, every licensed health care provider who provides care to any patient who has, is suspected of having, or has died from a reportable disease is required to report.
• Any person in charge of any institution, school, child care facility, or camp is also required to report disease to MDH.

STDs: Special Reporting Requirements

Frequently asked questions

• Frequently Asked Questions About STD and HIV Reporting
  Fact sheet with FAQs on STD reporting.

Special STD Reporting Requirements

• Notwithstanding any previous report, a health care practitioner who has reason to believe that a person having chlamydial infection, syphilis, gonorrhea, or chancroid has not completed therapy shall notify MDH immediately.
  
• Notwithstanding any previous report, a health care practitioner who treats persons infected with chlamydial infection, syphilis, gonorrhea, or chancroid shall ensure that contacts are treated or provide the names and addresses of contacts who may also be infected to MDH.
  • If known, persons named as contacts to a person with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), shall be reported.
• Notwithstanding any previous report, a health care practitioner shall immediately report to the commissioner the name, address, and essential facts of the case for any person known to have or suspected of having chlamydial infection, syphilis, gonorrhea, or chancroid who refuses treatment.
  
  
• If resources are available, the commissioner may authorize specific outpatient or inpatient facilities to report cases of specific sexually transmitted diseases and clinical syndromes (in addition to those specified in the communicable disease list).
  • The diseases and clinical syndromes to be reported shall include urethritis in males, pelvic inflammatory disease, genital herpes simplex infection, ectopic pregnancy, and other sexually transmitted disease as requested by MDH.
    
    
• Health care providers working with patients having chlamydial infection, syphilis, gonorrhea, chancroid, or HIV, including AIDS, shall tell the patients how to prevent the spread of the infection and inform them of the importance of complying with treatment instructions and of the need to have all relevant contacts promptly tested and treated for the infection.