The United States:Out of ControlAccording to the National Coalition of Sexually Transmitted Disease Supervisors, the sexually transmitted disease epidemic is on the rise.
The warning came in January following the release of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) annual data report on sexually transmitted diseases.
The public health authorities’ exasperation was apparent in the first sentence of the online announcement.
“Once again” CDC website Said“More than 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were reported in the United States.”
of The most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States in 2022 While chlamydia has held the top spot for years, it’s the recent rise in syphilis that is most concerning to health officials.
According to CDC data, there has been an 80 percent increase in cases of all stages of syphilis in the past five years.
Many people think that sexually transmitted diseases are something that adults are infected with, but syphilis also threatens the lives of babies. If a baby is infected with syphilis from its mother during pregnancy or childbirth, Congenital syphilis.
More than 3,700 such cases were officially reported in the United States in 2022, a 937% increase over 10 years.
The good news is that syphilis Curable with appropriate antibioticsUnfortunately, until an infection is diagnosed and treated, it can cause irreversible damage to the body. Syphilis is especially dangerousIn some cases, it can lead to developmental delays, seizures, and even death.
In adults, syphilis STIs are transmitted through vaginal, anal, or oral sex and tend to progress in stages: the first stage usually causes sores around the mouth and genitals, while the second stage can cause a rash on the body and flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, and fatigue.
The first two stages are when the infection is most contagious. Rarely, the disease progresses to the third stage, which can affect organs and be fatal.
The fact that cases of early stage syphilis are increasing by approximately 10 percent per year is extremely alarming and threatens the health of infants and young children across the country.
In just one year, cases of congenital syphilis increased 31 percent in the United States, disproportionately affecting black and African-American children.
Nearly every state reported cases of congenital syphilis in 2022, but five states – Texas, California, Arizona, Florida, and Louisiana – accounted for 57 percent of all reported cases.
“Tragically” I have written “These infections were responsible for 282 stillbirths and infant deaths in 2022,” said Laura Bachmann, director of sexually transmitted disease prevention at the CDC.
Such tragic outcomes are by no means inevitable: Experts say that 88 percent of these cases could be prevented with timely syphilis testing and treatment during pregnancy.
So why doesn’t that happen?
“The STI field has reached a tipping point,” Bachmann said. explanation.
“While we’ve known for some time that these infections are common, this is the first time in decades that we’ve faced such a devastating impact from syphilis. This recent public health emergency has diverted program resources and put the health of people who are already disproportionately affected by STIs at risk. We must act now to get back on track.”
CDC officials call It calls for “rapid innovation and collaboration” from all public health professionals involved in STI prevention.
Their voices have already been joined by many health organizations, including National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), American Sexual Health Association, American Academy of Family Physiciansand National Association of STD Directors (N.C.S.D.C.).
“CDC’s latest STD data shows our nation is facing a rapidly worsening public health crisis, with real lives at risk.” Statement from NCSDDC Warned.
“Sexually transmitted diseases, particularly syphilis, will continue to spiral out of control unless the Government and Congress provide the necessary funding to provide communities with the most basic testing, treatment and prevention services.”
President Biden has outlined a multi-agency plan to address rising cases of sexually transmitted diseases in the U.S., but funding for the effort is Uncertain.
Despite the worsening situation, in March, the NCSDDC Confirmed The White House’s fiscal year 2025 budget proposal does not include any increase in federal STI funding for the CDC.
An earlier version of this article was published in February 2024.
