Syphilis was nearly eliminated in the U.S. about 20 years ago, but rose by 74%, to 177,000 cases, between 2017 and 2021.
Smarty Pants is a journalist for The Austin Chronicle, specializing in local news and events in Austin, Texas. With a witty and informative style, Smarty Pants' articles in the "Mr. Smarty Pants Knows" series provide readers with interesting and quirky tidbits about the city and its culture.