Syphilis and other STD cases increased by 26% in the US

Between 2020 and 2021, the rates of the three most common STDs, including chlamydia and gonorrhoea, increased overall by 4.4%.

The CDC data indicates that these illnesses are more commonly contracted by homosexual and bisexual men.

Syphilis occurrences increased by 26% between 2020 and 2021, according to the statistics, which shows that at least 52,354 primary and secondary syphilis cases were reported in 2017. While the overall number of cases reached its greatest level since 1948, this was the highest infection rate since 1991. This is contrasted with the 7% increase in new cases of syphilis between 2019 and 2020. Between 2020 and 2021, the rates of the three most common STDs, including chlamydia and gonorrhoea, increased overall by 4.4%.

Early in the new millennium, syphilis cases had fallen to a historic low, but since then, they have been rising practically annually. The global monkeypox outbreak has also made the already dire situation worse and drawn attention to the system’s shortcomings in dealing with diseases that mostly spread through sex. According to reports, David Harvey, the executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, described the situation as “out of control.”

Some health professionals and advocates for sexual health are reportedly concerned about a substantial increase in the cases of common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States in 2021. The number of infections for various STDs, including gonorrhoea and syphilis, has climbed, while the number of cases of HIV has also increased, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A particularly worrying infection is syphilis, a bacterial condition that can start as genital sores but progress over time to cause severe symptoms and, if ignored, death. On the other hand, reports show that HIV cases increased by 16% last year.

The CDC and National Coalition of STD Directors presented Mena’s remarks on Monday at the 2022 STD Prevention Conference. This year’s conference will reportedly take place online between September 19 and 22, and during it, specialists will reportedly address current epidemics, cutting-edge research, and fresh prevention initiatives in the US.

“We must work collectively to rebuild, innovate, and expand STI prevention in the US – to close existing gaps, create lasting change and realize this vision,” said CDC’s director of STD prevention, Leandro Mena, in a statement.

Mena stated that researchers are also working on novel strategies, such as STD home test kits, which would make it simpler for people to determine whether they have any STDs and take the appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of the infections.