Photo: Bruce Stidham/Kaiser Health News
The U.S. is seeing a surge in STD cases across the country, and health officials are asking for increased prevention efforts and new treatment protocols.
“It is imperative that we … work to rebuild, innovate, and expand (STD) prevention in the U.S.,” Dr. Leandro Mena, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a speech Monday at a medical conference on sexually transmitted diseases, per theAssociated Press.
Syphilis cases increased 26% last year, according to the outlet. In 2021, the rate of syphilis cases reached its highest level in 20 years, and the total number of cases hit its highest since 1948. Gonorrhea has been increasing for several years as well.
HIV cases are also on the rise, with an increase of 16% last year. David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, said the situation is “out of control,” per the AP.
Getty Images
Prior to the pandemic, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia cases hit a record high for four consecutive years, the CDC reported.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
There were nearly 2.3 million diagnosed cases of the three STDs in 2017 based on preliminary data, the CDC said at the time, an increase of over 200,000 from 2016.
“We are sliding backward,” Dr. Jonathan Mermin, the director of the CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention,said in a press releaseat the time. “It is evident the systems that identify, treat, and ultimately prevent STDs are strained to near-breaking point.”
source: people.com
