Vaccine Shedding: Facts, Myths, & More
City Hall: Syphilis Cases Up Sharply In Lancaster County And In Nebraska
While two sexually transmitted infections that peaked during the height of the pandemic in Lancaster County have been trending downward since then, syphilis cases have spiked.
The trends in Lancaster County follow national trends, particularly for syphilis — a sharp increase that prompted the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in January to create a task force to address an 80% increase in cases nationally between 2018 and 2022. In 2023, syphilis cases increased another 1%, to more than 209,000 — the highest number since the 1950s.
Pregnant mothers can pass syphilis onto their newborns, and the more than 3,700 cases nationally of babies born with syphilis in 2022 reflects a more than 937% increase over the past decade.
In Lancaster County, reported cases of syphilis increased from 7 to 50 from 2014-2023 — a 400% increase in nine years, with some of the biggest increases in the last three years. Congenital syphilis cases weren't identified in the report.
One possible point of light: By the end of September this year, 37 cases had been reported in Lancaster County, down from 40 cases at the same time last year.
"It's still definitely higher than we'd like it to be," said Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department Director Kerry Kernen.
And nationally, despite the increase, CDC officials said last year's syphilis numbers were encouraging, with the most infectious cases of syphilis falling 10%. There was an increase in later-stage syphilis, likely a reflection of people infected years earlier, according to the Associated Press.
Statewide, the number of syphilis cases increased 17% from 2022 to September 2024, and increased 239% over the past five years.
Nationally, experts point to a number of reasons for the increase in syphilis cases, which Kernen said are similar locally, including substance abuse connected to risky sexual behavior, a decrease in condom use, and ongoing social and economic conditions.
Language barriers or transportation issues can also impact how many people get tested, Kernen said.
While syphilis cases have been increasing since 2014, they decreased in 2019 and 2020, then saw sharp increases the next three years.
Reported gonorrhea and chlamydia cases have been trending in the opposite direction since 2020, according to the department's annual summary of reportable diseases from 2014-2023.
Both chlamydia and gonorrhea had been generally increasing since 2014 in Lancaster County: reported chlamydia cases from 1,490 to 1,868; and gonorrhea cases from 299 to 814.
Then they began a downward trend: From 2020 to 2023 chlamydia decreased nearly 13% to 1,630; and gonorrhea decreased nearly 46%, to 375.
That trend could be continuing.
By the end of September, the Health Department reported 1,064 cases of chlamydia compared to 1,203 at the same time last year; and 265 gonorrhea cases compared to 285 last year.
Nationally, gonorrhea cases also have trended downward since 2021, and chlamydia cases remained relatively stable.
Kernen said there's no easy answer for the trends in rates since the pandemic, the full impact of which may not be known for years — if ever.
"There are so many variables playing into these rates from 2020 on," she said.
Certainly a piece of that is decreased testing. In 2020, despite the pandemic that essentially closed everything down in March, 9,565 people got tested for sexually transmitted diseases. That number continued to decrease for the next three years, to 7,354 last year.
Another factor: The department's disease intervention specialists who follow up with people who test positive for STIs to educate them about prevention and make sure they follow through with treatment were diverted to respond to COVID-19 cases.
They still worked with people diagnosed with STIs, Kernen said, but they prioritized syphilis cases.
Since President Joe Biden ended the public health emergency in May of last year, those specialists are now working again full time on sexually transmitted disease cases.
All three sexually transmitted diseases are bacterial infections that can be passed from person to person through sexual contact. If left untreated, chlamydia and gonorrhea can both cause complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease. Syphilis is the most serious, and if untreated, may return in its most serious forms years later, causing heart, neurological and even brain damage, blindness and death.
In Lancaster County, funding to address STIs has remained stable, despite a reduction in federal funding — part of a deal to lift the nation's debt ceiling last year. Kernen said the state, at least through June, has been able to find other sources of funding it distributes to counties.
Education — on prevention and normalizing the need for testing as a part of regular health care — is key to reducing the prevalence of all STIs, Kernen said.
"We really want people to use condoms," she said. "We have condom bowls all over (the offices and clinics). We'll show you how to use them and give them for free."
Speaking of health, the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department just made keeping the environment healthy easier.
People who need to renew permits, request inspections or submit payments can now do so through an online portal.
The recently launched environmental public health portal at ephportal.Lincoln.Ne.Gov features a large, single, easily searchable database created by scanning more than half a million documents and consolidating years of data from multiple systems, Kernen said.
All inspections by the department's environmental public health division are now done electronically, with reports automatically entered into the portal for direct access by businesses and facilities.
The new system and hardware upgrades are funded by a five-year, $250,000 data modernization grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Kernen said the portal is also part of a new system that streamlines and automates workflow for LLCHD inspectors, and makes records like restaurant inspections more easily accessible.
Services offered through the portal include applications and renewal of food, air, body art, water and waste permits; payments; inspection requests; access to food establishment inspection records; and reporting consumer complaints.
Residents can still call the division of environmental public health at 402-441-8040 or come to 3131 O St. To apply for or renew permits, request inspections or submit payments.
As the holiday season approaches and the sleep-inducing tryptophan of turkey dissipates — a reminder that it's time to get influenza, COVID-19 and RSV shots.
Our Thanksgiving celebration had to be postponed several days because of some nasty virus that hit several family members. It wasn't COVID-19, RSV or the flu, but it sure was a good reminder that vaccines can help avoid the most serious illnesses.
So, one more item added to the to-do list.
President-elect Donald Trump has announced his appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr as US Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy ran for president in this year's election as an independent candidate before dropping out and endorsing Trump in exchange for a role in the Republican's administration. The former lawyer has stated that he is on a mission to shake up the global health establishment in a bid to "Make America Healthy Again". Kennedy prides himself as an enivornmental activist, but has been heavily criticized on his health conspiracies, being accused of being a prominent vaccine misinformation spreader. Despite numerous studies having debunked his theories, Kennedy persistently claims that childhood vaccines are linked to autism along with other claims. Fluoride in water has also been a key point in Kennedy's campaign issues. The chemical strengthens teeth and has been added to US water supplies since 1945 to protect against tooth decay. The 70-year-old claims that "fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease" He has vowed that the Trump administration will advise all US water systems to remove fluoride from public water on its first day in office. Trump has appeared to echo Kennedy's opinions on health, repeatedly accusing domestic and international health organizations of being corrupt. "We'll take on the corruption at the FDA [Food and Drug Administration], the CDC [Centres for Disease Control], World Health Organization (WHO) and other institutions of public health that have dominated, and really are dominated by corporate power, and dominated really by China," said Trump. Kennedy has also accused the FDA of enciting a "war on public health" and claims it will soon come to an end. "[The war] includes its aggressive suppression of psychedelics, peptides, stem cells, raw milk, hyperbaric therapies, chelating compounds, ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, vitamins, clean foods, sunshine, exercise, nutraceuticals and anything else that advances human health and can't be patented by Pharma," Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy's stance on abortion rights has been inconsistent. As an independent candidate, he opposed bans before fetal viability, aligning with the former Roe v. Wade standard. While running as a Democrat, he supported banning abortion after the first trimester but later took back those comments. Kennedy also opposes gender-affirming care for transgender minors, claiming that "sexual identification" and "gender confusion" is caused by man-made chemicals in water or the environment.
unbranded - Newsworthy Top Journal Star photos for November 2024Rachel Mulcahy of Lincoln unveils a roll of about 300 signatures supporting the group Justice in Action during a rally in front of the Hall of Justice on Thursday. The scroll was later delivered to the office of Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal StarNebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola "bowls" the football after a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL,Journal StarNorfolk Catholic head coach Jeff Bellar is doused with water byhis players as the clock hits zero as the Knights celebrate their win over the Bishop Neumann Cavilers in the Class C-2 championship game Tuesday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal StarTaylor Woods looks through 3D glasses held by her cousin, Jalyn Wurm, during a sensory night for the annual Zoo Lights event on Monday at Lincoln Children's Zoo.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal StarNebraska players carry the Freedom Trophy after defeating Wisconsin, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN,Journal StarMillard South's Daxton Williams (0) smiles as he hugs his youth football coach Eric Kuhl after winning the Class A state football championship game against Omaha Westside on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Millard South won 27-10.
KATY COWELL,Journal StarWahoo's Kip Brigham (32) is lifted up by Jake Scanlon (53) after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of the Class C-1 championship game Tuesday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal StarThe sun sets as the lights come on at the Nebraska Christmas Lights Show at Star City Shores on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024.
KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal StarNebraska's Rebekah Allick (5) celebrates a kill during the second set of the match against Wisconsin on Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
KATY COWELL, Journal StarJustice Jeffrey J. Funke (right) is sworn into office by retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Hon. Michael Heavican during a Supreme Court investiture ceremony in the Capitol rotunda on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, at the Capitol.
KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal StarWahoo players try to douse head coach Chad Fox with Gatorade after winning the Class C-1 championship game Tuesday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal StarNebraska's Brice Turner celebrates on the field after winning the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal StarNebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (left) celebrates his touchdown with Dylan Raiola during the first quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal StarBennington's Aidan Smith (17) recovers a fumble by Omaha Skutt's Dylan VanDyke (12) during the third quarter of the Class B state football championship on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL,Journal StarLincoln firefighter Andrew Brenner sprays water from the top of a ladder truck on to the roof of a former Village Inn at 29th and O streets Wednesday morning.
KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal StarSandy Creek's Jacob Petr (top) and Sandy Creek's Wes Biltoft (bottom) attempt to stop Stanton's Becker Pohlman as he dives toward the pylon for a two point conversion in the second quarter of the Class D-1 championship game Monday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal StarCreighton's Steven Ashworth (1) attempts to save a ball from going out of bounds against Nebraska on Friday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
KATY COWELL, Journal StarLuca Gustafson, 6, rides to school Tuesday with the bike bus at Riley Elementary School. Each Tuesday, students can bike to school with adult chaperones along a specific route.
KATY COWELL, Journal StarLincoln Fire Fighters Association member Andy Evans works to assemble a headboard during a bed-building day hosted by Sleep in Heavenly Peace on Saturday at Hampton Enterprises. Volunteers helped build 20 beds for children in need.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal StarWahoo's Braylon Iversen celebrates with Warrior players after they defeated Auburn in a Class C-1 state semifinal game Friday in Wahoo.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal StarSecond-time mother giraffe Allie nuzzles her new calf in the giraffe experience enclosure on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Lincoln Children's Zoo.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal StarNebraska celebrates during the first set of the match against Minnesota on Thursday at the Devaney Sports Center.
KATY COWELL, Journal StarCovered by a canopy of changing leaves, a car cruises along A street in a neighborhood north of Downtown Lincoln on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Mild temperatures continue into the mid weeks of November. Wednesday calls for a chance of rain showers before noon with gusty winds. Most days this week are expected to be accompanied by mostly sunny skies and consistent breezes.
KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal StarIris Gonnerman, 8 (from right), her brother Oliver, 6, and cousin Noreen Milana, 9, wave flags while watching Veterans Parade outside the state Capitol on Sunday.
KATY COWELL, Journal StarNebraska's Connor Essegian scores against Bethune-Cookma on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
JUSTIN WAN Journal StarNorris' Anna Jelinek (left) lifts the the Class B championship trophy alongside Rya Borer on Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal StarLincoln Lutheran players embrace one another as threy celebrate defeating Thayer Central in four sets to win the Class C-2 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal StarSuperior players celebrate their three set win over EMF during the Class D-1 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal StarReflected in a ceiling beam, Leyton takes on Shelton in the first set of the Class D-2 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal StarOmaha Skutt's Nicole Ott (left) and Addison West react after a point in the second set during a Class B semifinal match Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal StarHasan Khalil, owner of Golden Scissors, trims the beard of Vitaliy Martynyuk on Friday at his barbershop in Lincoln.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal StarSouthwest fans Kylea Stritt (from left), Peg Rice, and Stacey Wilson cheer on their team as the "horsemen" during a Class D-1 first-round match Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal StarMillard West players dogpile on the floor after defeating Lincoln Southwest in five set match during a Class A first-round match Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal StarLincoln Southwest's Shelby Harding dives to save the ball from hitting the ground in the first set during a Class A first-round match Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal StarSecond graders Eli Gonzalez (left) and Shrutoshome Datta look at drawings that first and second grade students made at the Monster Jam Art Show on Wednesday at Elliott Elementary School. The elementary school students made drawings of monsters to be turned into different types of art by Lincoln High School students.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal StarNorris players celebrate a point against Lincoln Pius X in a Class B state volleyball tournament match, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
JUSTIN WAN Journal StarU.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (right) talks with supporters, including Darlene Starman of Lincoln, at her campaign office on Tuesday in Lincoln.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal StarA cutout of Jesus watches over voters on Tuesday at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal StarAbigail Webb votes on Tuesday at F Street Community Center.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal StarNebraska's Rollie Worster (24) shoots a layup while defended by Texas Rio Grande Valley's Marshal Destremau (left) and Trey Miller (right) on Nov. 4 at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star file photoNebraska's Allison Weidner (left) autographs a poster for Freeman Public Schools student Godwil Muthiani, 12 (center), after the game against UNO on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Muthiani's sign says, "#3 Allison Weinder is the GOAT! Sorry I'm only 12."
KATY COWELL Journal StarNebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule speaks to an official after a targeting call on Nebraska during the first quarter of the game against UCLA on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. The call was overturned after review.
KATY COWELL Journal StarNebraska's Dante Dowdell scores against UCLA in the fourth quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal StarCadet Elena Burgwald (left) and Cadet Mason Beck look up as a B-1B Lancer flies over Memorial Stadium before the UCLA game against Nebraska on Saturday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal StarUCLA's K.J. Wallace (7) defends Nebraska's Jacory Barney (17) as he makes a diving 40-yard catch in the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal StarLincoln Southeast quarterback Tre Bollen (left) and Tate Sandman react after losing a Class A football playoff game against Millard North on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Seacrest Field. Millard North won 10-3.
KATY COWELL Journal StarAfter the field clears, Norris' Jarrett Behrends (17) kicks his helmet after the Titans fell to Waverly 16-17 in a Class B football playoff game on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Waverly High School.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal StarA line of people waiting to vote has been normal at the Lancaster County Election Commission Office at 601 N. 46th St., as it was Friday afternoon. The office will be open 7 a.M. To 5 p.M. Monday to allow voters to cast an early ballot. If they wait until Election Day, they will need to go to their precinct or drop off their ballots at one of five drop boxes across the city. For more stories about about Tuesday's election, go to Journalstar.Com.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal StarEXPLAINER: Why Syphilis Is A Threat To Health And Its Stigma
Syphilis, often termed a "silent disease," remains one of the most stigmatised Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
This stigma not only isolates patients but also drives them away from seeking essential medical care, perpetuating its spread.
According to Adel Botros, a specialist in dermatology and venereology in Egypt, this stigma manifests in heartbreaking ways.
Recalling a case from a decade ago, Botros recounted how the father of a newborn with congenital syphilis refused treatment due to fear and shame.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), syphilis is a preventable and curable bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI).
If untreated, it can cause serious health issues, though many people with syphilis do not have symptoms or do not notice them.
Syphilis is transmitted during oral, vaginal and anal sex, in pregnancy and through blood transfusion.
Syphilis in pregnancy may lead to stillbirth, newborn death and babies born with syphilis (congenital syphilis).
Correct and consistent use of condoms during sex can prevent syphilis.
Rapid tests can provide results in a few minutes, which allows treatment initiation on the same clinic visit.
Without treatment, the tertiary phase of syphilis may lead to several complications decades after infection.
At this stage, syphilis can affect multiple organs and systems, including the brain, nerves, eyes, liver, heart, blood vessels, bones and joints.
Tertiary syphilis can also cause death.
The global burden of syphilis
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), cases of syphilis have increased from 8.8 million in 1990 to 14 million in 2019, with incidence rates rising from 160 to 178 per 100,000 people.
In the United States, rates of congenital syphilis have tripled since 2016.
Despite the global rise in syphilis cases, some regions have shown remarkable progress.
Morocco has significantly reduced congenital syphilis rates, and in 2022, Oman achieved the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
These successes underscore the importance of targeted public health initiatives and dispel harmful stereotypes.
Historically, syphilis has been used to marginalize communities, especially women.
In Morocco, during the French colonial period, authorities claimed syphilis prevalence among local women was as high as 80 to 100 per cent.
Research by public health professor Ellen Amster reveals these figures were grossly inflated due to misdiagnoses and unreliable testing.
Actual prevalence was less than 0.5 per cent.
These misconceptions justified oppressive practices, such as confining women to brothels under the guise of controlling syphilis transmission.
"Syphilis was tied to gender disempowerment and shame around sexuality- which always becomes a gendered shame," Amster explains.
This legacy continues to shape attitudes toward sexual health.
Comprehensive sexual health services, including prevention, education, and counselling are critical.
Experts advocate for breaking the silence around STIs to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for those affected.
The global rise in syphilis serves as a stark reminder of the importance of integrating human rights into public health strategies.
By addressing stigma and inequality, we can build a future where sexual health is a priority for all.
Modern health crises continue to reveal the enduring intersection of stigma, power dynamics, and public health.
The 2022 Mpox outbreak (formerly known as monkeypox) is a stark example.
Despite efforts by global health authorities to control the virus, stigma persisted, fueled by discriminatory reporting.
According to UNAIDS, media coverage often relied on imagery and language that reinforced homophobic and racist stereotypes, particularly targeting LGBTI and African communities.
Similar patterns were evident during the Covid-19 pandemic, where xenophobic narratives sparked widespread anti-Asian discrimination.
Human Rights Watch documented waves of violence and exclusion driven by unfounded fears about contagion.
Syphilis is no exception to these dynamics. Historically wielded as a tool to marginalise communities, it remains a symbol of shame in many societies.
The WHO notes that the disease disproportionately affects men who have sex with men, further amplifying stigmatization in some communities.
Botros emphasises how fear and shame continue to obscure the true burden of syphilis in regions like the Arab States.
"The stigma weaponised against our region in colonial times persists," he says.
Many patients avoid seeking care unless they have no other option, further complicating efforts to manage the disease.
Towards inclusive and stigma-free health solutions
Addressing contagious diseases requires confronting the prejudices embedded in public health responses.
Experts from UNFPA and WHO argue for the urgent need to engage affected communities rather than alienating them.
This approach not only reduces stigma but also improves disease surveillance and intervention outcomes.
By prioritising equity, inclusivity, and education, modern society can challenge the power dynamics that have long obstructed progress in global health, ensuring no one is left behind in the fight against syphilis and other public health threats.
STD Epidemic Slows As New Syphilis And Gonorrhea Cases Fall In U.S.
The U.S. Syphilis epidemic slowed dramatically last year, gonorrhea cases fell and chlamydia cases remained below prepandemic levels, according to federal data released Tuesday.
The numbers represented some good news about sexually transmitted diseases, which experienced some alarming increases in past years due to declining condom use, inadequate sex education, and reduced testing and treatment when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Last year, cases of the most infectious stages of syphilis fell 10% from the year before — the first substantial decline in more than two decades. Gonorrhea cases dropped 7%, marking a second straight year of decline and bringing the number below what it was in 2019.
"I'm encouraged, and it's been a long time since I felt that way" about the nation's epidemic of sexually transmitted infections, said the CDC's Jonathan Mermin. "Something is working."
More than 2.4 million cases of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia were diagnosed and reported last year — 1.6 million cases of chlamydia, 600,000 of gonorrhea, and more than 209,000 of syphilis.
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Syphilis is a particular concern. For centuries, it was a common but feared infection that could deform the body and end in death. New cases plummeted in the U.S. Starting in the 1940s when infection-fighting antibiotics became widely available, and they trended down for a half century after that. By 2002, however, cases began rising again, with men who have sex with other men being disproportionately affected.
The new report found cases of syphilis in their early, most infectious stages dropped 13% among gay and bisexual men. It was the first such drop since the agency began reporting data for that group in the mid-2000s.
However, there was a 12% increase in the rate of cases of unknown- or later-stage syphilis — a reflection of people infected years ago.
Cases of syphilis in newborns, passed on from infected mothers, also rose. There were nearly 4,000 cases, including 279 stillbirths and infant deaths.
"This means pregnant women are not being tested often enough," said Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, a professor of medicine at the University of Southern California.
Stigma and the return of syphilisWhat caused some of the STD trends to improve? Several experts say one contributor is the growing use of an antibiotic as a "morning-after pill." Studies have shown that taking doxycycline within 72 hours of unprotected sex cuts the risk of developing syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.
In June, the CDC started recommending doxycycline as a morning-after pill, specifically for gay and bisexual men and transgender women who recently had an STD diagnosis. But health departments and organizations in some cities had been giving the pills to people for a couple years.
Some experts believe that the 2022 mpox outbreak — which mainly hit gay and bisexual men — may have had a lingering effect on sexual behavior in 2023, or at least on people's willingness to get tested when strange sores appeared.
Another factor may have been an increase in the number of health workers testing people for infections, doing contact tracing and connecting people to treatment. Congress gave $1.2 billion to expand the workforce over five years, including $600 million to states, cities and territories that get STD prevention funding from CDC.
Last year had the "most activity with that funding throughout the U.S.," said David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors.
However, Congress ended the funds early as a part of last year's debt ceiling deal, cutting off $400 million. Some people already have lost their jobs, said a spokeswoman for Harvey's organization.
Still, Harvey said he had reasons for optimism, including the growing use of doxycycline and a push for at-home STD test kits.
Birth control has become harder to get. New York has some creative solutionsAlso, there are reasons to think the next presidential administration could get behind STD prevention. In 2019, then-President Donald Trump announced a campaign to "eliminate" the U.S. HIV epidemic by 2030. (Federal health officials later clarified that the actual goal was a huge reduction in new infections — fewer than 3,000 a year.)
There were nearly 32,000 new HIV infections in 2022, the CDC estimates. But a boost in public health funding for HIV could also also help bring down other sexually transmitted infections, experts said.
"When the government puts in resources, puts in money, we see declines in STDs," Klausner said. — Mike Stobbe
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