New STD Surveillance Report Released

New STD Surveillance Report Released

New STD Surveillance Report Released

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent this bulletin at 01/09/2014 12:17 PM EST

CDC’s Division of STD Prevention would like to wish you a very Happy New Year. To kick off the year, we are releasing the latest national data on reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis in the 2012 STD Surveillance Report. The report finds that STDs continue to threaten the health and well-being of millions of Americans, particularly young people as well as gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM).

Trend data show that primary and secondary syphilis cases – the most infectious stages of the disease -- are increasing among MSM, who now account for 75 percent of all infections. Syphilis infection can place a person at increased risk for HIV infection. Surveillance data from several major cities throughout the country indicate that an average of 4 in 10 MSM with syphilis are also infected with HIV.

Data from the report also show that cases and rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea infection are highest in Americans between the ages of 15 and 24. Both young men and young women are heavily affected by STDs – but young women face some of the most serious long-term health consequences. It is estimated that undiagnosed STDs cause infertility in 24,000 women each year.

The Report is available online at http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats12/.