US Experiencing 'Out of Control' STD Epidemic
The National Coalition of STD Directors in America has reported that the United States is facing an "out of control" epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
This alarm was raised following the publication of the annual report on STDs by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as mentioned by the "Science Alert" website.
The report indicates that over 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were diagnosed.
Chlamydia remains the most widespread STD in the United States for 2022 and has topped the list for several years. However, public health officials are particularly worried about the current surge in syphilis cases.
According to the CDC data, syphilis cases in the United States have risen by 80 percent over the past five years.
Contrary to the belief that only adults contract syphilis, the disease also threatens the lives of children who can be infected by their mothers during pregnancy or at birth.
In 2022, there were over 3,700 reported cases in the United States, representing a staggering increase of 937 percent over a decade.
Syphilis can be treated with antibiotics, but by the time it presents clear symptoms allowing for diagnosis, it may have already caused irreversible damage to the body. For children, the infection with syphilis can lead to severe complications, such as seizures, developmental delays, and even death.
Adults contract syphilis infections through various sexual practices, and in its initial stages, where sores appear around the mouth and genital areas. In the second stage, a body rash appears, accompanied by symptoms similar to the common cold, including fever, headache, and fatigue.
In the first two stages, syphilis is highly contagious, and it rarely progresses to the third stage, which affects the body's internal organs and can be fatal.
Within a single year, congenital syphilis cases (affecting children) increased by 31 percent among the African American community.
Laura Bachmann, Director of STD Control at the CDC, states that these infections resulted in 282 fetal and newborn deaths during 2022.
Experts believe that 88 percent of these deaths could have been prevented if syphilis screening was conducted during pregnancy and treated accordingly.
Bachmann adds, "For some time, we have been aware that these diseases are common, but we have not seen such significant impacts for decades."
CDC officials call for immediate coordination among all public health experts to participate in fighting STDs.
A statement from the National Coalition of STD Directors indicates that "the latest data from the CDC shows we are facing a public health crisis that is rapidly deteriorating, putting many lives at risk."
Furthermore, the statement emphasizes, "Sexually transmitted diseases, especially syphilis, will continue to spread uncontrollably until the American administration and Congress decide to allocate funding for detection, treatment, and control services."
Despite President Joe Biden's inter-agency plan to address the rise in STDs, efforts to secure funding for this initiative remain uncertain.
The report indicates that over 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were diagnosed.
Chlamydia remains the most widespread STD in the United States for 2022 and has topped the list for several years. However, public health officials are particularly worried about the current surge in syphilis cases.
According to the CDC data, syphilis cases in the United States have risen by 80 percent over the past five years.
Contrary to the belief that only adults contract syphilis, the disease also threatens the lives of children who can be infected by their mothers during pregnancy or at birth.
In 2022, there were over 3,700 reported cases in the United States, representing a staggering increase of 937 percent over a decade.
Syphilis can be treated with antibiotics, but by the time it presents clear symptoms allowing for diagnosis, it may have already caused irreversible damage to the body. For children, the infection with syphilis can lead to severe complications, such as seizures, developmental delays, and even death.
Adults contract syphilis infections through various sexual practices, and in its initial stages, where sores appear around the mouth and genital areas. In the second stage, a body rash appears, accompanied by symptoms similar to the common cold, including fever, headache, and fatigue.
In the first two stages, syphilis is highly contagious, and it rarely progresses to the third stage, which affects the body's internal organs and can be fatal.
Within a single year, congenital syphilis cases (affecting children) increased by 31 percent among the African American community.
Laura Bachmann, Director of STD Control at the CDC, states that these infections resulted in 282 fetal and newborn deaths during 2022.
Experts believe that 88 percent of these deaths could have been prevented if syphilis screening was conducted during pregnancy and treated accordingly.
Bachmann adds, "For some time, we have been aware that these diseases are common, but we have not seen such significant impacts for decades."
CDC officials call for immediate coordination among all public health experts to participate in fighting STDs.
A statement from the National Coalition of STD Directors indicates that "the latest data from the CDC shows we are facing a public health crisis that is rapidly deteriorating, putting many lives at risk."
Furthermore, the statement emphasizes, "Sexually transmitted diseases, especially syphilis, will continue to spread uncontrollably until the American administration and Congress decide to allocate funding for detection, treatment, and control services."
Despite President Joe Biden's inter-agency plan to address the rise in STDs, efforts to secure funding for this initiative remain uncertain.
