US Faces Alarming Rise in Sexually Transmitted Infections, Syphilis Cases on the Rise
The United States is currently grappling with an “out-of-control” epidemic of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), as reported by the National Coalition of STD Directors. This alarming revelation follows the release of the annual data report on STIs by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC’s announcement on their website reflects the exasperation felt by public health officials regarding this issue. They state, “Yet again, more than 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were reported in the United States.” Chlamydia has consistently remained the most common STI in the US for several years. However, it is the recent surge in syphilis cases that is causing the greatest concern among health officials.
According to CDC data, syphilis cases of all stages have witnessed an alarming 80 percent increase over the past five years. While most people associate STIs with adults, syphilis poses a significant threat to infants as well. When a child contracts syphilis from their mother during pregnancy or birth, it is referred to as congenital syphilis.
Disturbingly, more than 3,700 cases of congenital syphilis were officially reported in the US in 2022 alone. This represents a staggering 937 percent increase over the course of a single decade. Although syphilis is curable with appropriate antibiotics, the problem lies in diagnosing and treating the infection promptly to prevent irreversible damage to the body. In infants, syphilis can lead to developmental delays, seizures, and even death.
In adults, syphilis is primarily transmitted through vaginal, anal, or oral sex and progresses through various stages. The initial stage typically manifests as sores around the mouth or genitals, while the secondary stage may cause rashes on the body and flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, and fatigue. These first two stages are when the infection is most contagious. Fortunately, the disease rarely progresses to the third stage, which can affect the organs and prove fatal.
The concerning fact is that the early stages of syphilis are increasing at a rate of approximately 10 percent each year, posing a significant threat to the health of infants nationwide. In just one year, cases of congenital syphilis have surged by 31 percent in the US, with Black or African American children disproportionately affected.
While nearly every state reported at least one case of congenital syphilis in 2022, Texas, California, Arizona, Florida, and Louisiana accounted for 57 percent of all reports. Laura Bachmann, the CDC Director for STD Prevention, laments these distressing statistics, stating, “Tragically, these infections resulted in 282 stillbirths and infant deaths in 2022.”
However, experts assert that such dire outcomes are not inevitable. Timely testing and treatment for syphilis during pregnancy could have prevented 88 percent of these cases. The question then arises: why isn’t this happening?
Bachmann suggests that the field of STI prevention has reached a tipping point. While it has long been known that these infections are prevalent, the severe effects of syphilis have not been witnessed in decades. Recent public health emergencies have diverted program resources and jeopardized the health of those already disproportionately affected by STIs. Urgent action is now required to address this crisis.
Officials at the CDC are calling for swift innovation and collaboration from all public health experts involved in STI prevention. Their plea has garnered support from various health associations, including the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the American Sexual Health Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSDDC).
In a statement, the NCSDDC emphasizes the severity of the situation, stating, “The CDC’s latest STI data shows that our nation is facing a rapidly deteriorating public health crisis with real lives at stake.” They stress that STIs, particularly syphilis, will continue to spiral out of control unless communities receive the necessary funding for basic screening, treatment, and prevention services.
While President Biden has initiated a multi-agency plan to tackle the rising STI cases in America, the availability of funding for this endeavor remains uncertain. Last year, NCSDDC Director David Harvey warned that if President Biden continued to cut health funding overall, his efforts towards STI prevention would inevitably fail.
The NCSDDC acknowledges President Biden’s focus on addressing the severe consequences of the nation’s STI epidemic, particularly congenital syphilis. However, they caution that federal leadership alone will prove ineffective if communities do not receive the funding required to combat this crisis effectively.
