A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights a troubling escalation in syphilis cases throughout the United States. The period between 2018 and 2022 witnessed a substantial 80% increase, totaling over 207,000 cases. This concerning pattern spans diverse age groups and geographic regions, impacting even newborns, with a notable 937% rise in congenital syphilis cases reported over the past decade. The report also highlighted the fact that marginalized communities, including young people; women; members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community; Black, Latino/a, and American Indian/Alaska Native peoples; and those with limited access to health care, are disproportionately affected by STIs and impacted in their efforts to stay healthy.
In a year that was already marred by a pandemic and ongoing threats to public health, this new data underscores the need for renewed investments in sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and support services. The bipartisan Congressional Caucus on STIs, including many of the NGLCC’s leaders, is working to rebalance the federal budget to strengthen funding for these vital programs.
As the nation was once on the verge of eliminating syphilis and other STIs, years of underfunding have allowed a resurgence, with the rates of the disease rising fastest among marginalized populations. A lack of accessible health care, increased levels of substance abuse, and declining condom use have been contributing factors.
Moreover, stigma and a misguided perception of the relationship between STIs and sexually explicit behavior have hindered prevention efforts and limited the availability of affordable and effective treatments for STIs. As a result, STIs continue to impose substantial costs on individuals, families, communities, and the economy, resulting in serious long-term physical and mental health consequences.
A resurgence in syphilis is incredibly distressing because it’s preventable. Vaccination against syphilis is available and is a safe and effective treatment, but many people don’t receive the vaccine because of misconceptions and lack of knowledge about the disease.
While the STI epidemic is happening nationwide, some regions are struggling to keep pace with demand, and local programs are experiencing drug shortages and cuts to their workforce that are hampering efforts to identify and treat patients. The Biden administration has taken several steps to curb the crisis, including launching a syphilis task force and allowing the FDA to temporarily import the medication Extencilline to help address the shortage of Bicillin L-A, typically used to treat syphilis in pregnant women.