New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals a mixed picture regarding sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States. While overall cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis in adults saw a decrease in 2024, marking the third and second consecutive years of decline respectively, a troubling trend persists: a continued increase in congenital syphilis. Congenital syphilis, where mothers transmit the infection to their unborn babies, poses a significant threat, potentially leading to severe health complications, including deafness, blindness, and bone malformations, even death.
The CDC's provisional data indicates a decline of roughly 9% in total STD cases compared to 2023, with approximately 1.5 million chlamydia cases, 543,000 gonorrhea cases, and over 190,000 syphilis cases reported. The decrease in adult syphilis cases is partly attributed to increased use of preventative antibiotics like doxycycline, especially within gay and bisexual men and transgender women communities. However, this positive trend doesn't reflect the alarming rise in congenital syphilis cases, which have been steadily increasing since 2012, reaching nearly 4,000 cases in 2024, a slight increase from the previous year. Experts emphasize that any rise in congenital syphilis cases is cause for concern, highlighting the urgent need for improved preventative measures.
Elizabeth Finley, interim executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, stated that the continued increase in congenital syphilis demonstrates a critical gap in protecting pregnant women and their newborns. The continued rise is linked to several factors, notably the fact that only about 80% of pregnant women currently undergo syphilis screening, according to recent CDC studies. While a general decline in young people forming new partnerships may contribute to the overall decrease in STD rates, addressing the specific issue of congenital syphilis requires a targeted approach focused on improving prenatal care and syphilis screening rates among expectant mothers. Effective prevention strategies and increased awareness are critical to reverse this alarming trend and protect the health of newborns.
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Originally published at: https://apnews.com/article/cdc-std-trends-syphilis-chlamydia-gonorrhea-694fd1e1b61c6f22fa516a15abe0f206
