Press Release
New CDC Surveillance Shows STDs Surge to 20 Year High
New data, released today by CDC, show the highest combined rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis (STDs) in the U.S. in 20 years.
Washington, D.C. – New data released today show the highest combined rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis (STDs) in the U.S. in 20 years, reports the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). The surge in STDs is occurring at a time of budget cuts to State and local STD programs, including a possible $5 million cut in 2017 by a Senate Appropriations subcommittee.
“Given the surge in STDs, now is not the time to reduce funding to combat these diseases,” says David C. Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors. “We call upon Congress to reverse the 2017 Senate funding cut and provide an increase of at least $8.1 million for STD programs. We also call upon the new administration to request additional funding for STD programs in their 2018 budget request to Congress,” Harvey adds.
Young people ages 15-24 and gay and bisexual men are at highest risk for STDs. Young people face unique barriers to services, including stigma, confidentiality concerns, and limited access to expert STD providers.
Annually, there are 20 million new STD cases, costing the U.S. health care system $16 billion. Rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis increased significantly for the third year in a row, reaching a 20-year high. The long-term health consequences posed by STDs are serious and often irreversible, especially if not diagnosed and treated early. Young people ages 15-24 and gay and bisexual men are at highest risk for STDs. Young people face unique barriers to services, including stigma, confidentiality concerns, and limited access to expert STD providers.
STDs can lead to chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. A pregnant woman can pass STDs on to her baby, leading to serious disabilities or death in the infant. STDs increase the risk for acquiring HIV, especially men who have sex with men, undoing the gains that have been made in HIV prevention and care.
Additional Background
Rates for primary and secondary syphilis, which are the most infectious stages of syphilis, increased by a shocking 19 percent in 2015, on top of a 15 percent increase in 2014.
- Rates of congenital syphilis rose 6 percent, and there are increasing reports of neurosyphilis and ocular syphilis, a serious infection of the nervous system.
- Gonorrhea increased overall from 2014 to 2015 by 12.8 percent, driven by an 18.3 percent increase among men and a 6.8 percent increase among women.
- Levels of drug resistance to treating gonorrhea bacterium are rising in two recommended drug therapies.
- Chlamydia rates increased overall in 2015 by 5.9 percent, driven by a 10.5 increase among men. Rates of chlamydia also increased in women by 3.8 percent.
- In recent years, more than half of state and local STD programs experienced large budget cuts, resulting in more then 20 health department STD clinics closing in one year alone (2012).
- Congress has provided no funding increases for STD programs since 2003.
- Preventing STDs can save the U.S. health care system billions of dollars.
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The National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) is a partnership of public health professionals dedicated to promoting sexual health through the prevention of STDs. For more information, or to connect to a state health department STD director, visit NCSDDC.org or call (202) 842-4660.