Japan is facing a penicillin shortage, the main treatment for syphilis, while infection rates remain high. Production halted due to equipment failures and is expected to resume at the end of next year. In the first 8 months of 2026, 7,700 cases were reported. In 2025, there were over 13,000 cases, and in previous years, the numbers have been high, exceeding 10,000 cases annually since 2022. Penicillin is crucial for preventing mother-to-child transmission, and its scarcity exacerbates the risk of congenital syphilis.
