MPV’s intersections with the nation’s raging STD epidemic were on full display this week as the media turned its attention to the CDC’s newly released preliminary 2021 STD numbers. The record-high numbers presented an opportunity to share an important part of the current MPV outbreak’s origin story. Yes, MPV may have initially emerged from zoonotic roots, but it was the failure to maintain the nation’s public health system that allowed it to spread so widely through the nation over these past five months. The focus on the 2021 STI numbers let us point to the common solutions for both: funding.  

On Tuesday, NCSD partnered with IDSA, HIVMA, Senator Merkley, Representative Cicilline, and the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, to host a congressional briefing on the experiences of clinics and health departments outbreak. These congressional leaders have been solid allies in the push for resources to end the outbreak, and their leadership will be all the more important as Congress barrels toward a September 30 deadline to pass a Continuing Resolution to fund the government.  

This week, NCSD’s members and our compatriots in the field gathered for the 2022 STD Prevention Conference to hear from world-class scientists, program leaders, clinicians, and professionals in the field. In the background, we prepped for big things in the coming week. Look for a few big news stories in the works and a press conference to highlight first-hand stories from clinicians. We are also launching our third clinic survey. We urge you to take the survey if you work in a clinic or forward the link in your networks. We’ll also host our bi-weekly MPV Working Group meeting and look forward to sharing updates with you in next week’s update.