America’s headlines told the story of the nation’s STI epidemic in 2023. From alarming trends like the dire rise in congenital syphilis to harmful funding cuts in Washington to exciting new solutions for prevention, the nation’s health journalists worked hard to share important stories of the STI epidemic, public health efforts to curb rising rates, and the real impact on human lives.  

Sharing information about the nation’s STI epidemic is an essential part of our work to strengthen the public health response to STIs. In 2023, we used our voice, our data, and our partnerships to raise awareness of congenital syphilis and intersecting public health issues, speaking truth to power by calling attention to drug shortages and funding cuts, and leading early conversations about DoxyPEP. Altogether, stories with NCSD’s perspective landed in front of readers nearly seven billion times.  

1. CNN: CDC facing major funding cuts, with direct impact on state and local health departments by Deidre McPhillips and Brenda Goodman 
2. CNN: US health officials alarmed by ‘dire’ rise in dangerous, preventable syphilis infections in babies by Brenda Goodman 
3. CNN: US syphilis cases are rising, and STD clinics warn they’re struggling to find crucial antibiotic by Jacqueline Howard 
4. NBC News: Taking an antibiotic after sex helps gay men curb STDs — but might fuel drug resistance by Ben Ryan 
5. CNN: STIs are on the rise in the US. A pill taken after sex could help slow them down by Jacqueline Howard 
6. New York Times: Infants Are Born With Syphilis in Growing Numbers, a Sign of a Wider Epidemic by Apoorva Mandavilli 
7. Vox: Fauci’s replacement is the person America’s STI crisis needs by Keren Landman 
8. Washington Post: A new morning-after pill to stop STDs could also make the problem worse by Fenit Nirappil 
9. CNN: Rates of congenital syphilis are skyrocketing in the US. Here’s why by Brenda McPhillips 
10. Politico: The debt ceiling deal could make America’s STD problem much worse by Alice Miranda Ollstein 

The top stories of 2023 won’t stay in 2023 – this year’s top stories will have significant implications for the nation’s health in the years ahead. As we enter 2024, we will continue to share how Washington moves play out in America’s communities, how new science will benefit patients (and where it might miss the mark), and how the nation’s STI professionals are leading the way to improve the nation’s health.