On Tuesday, January 13^th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new surveillance data on the national rates of sexually transmitted disease (STD) infections. The CDC reported that rates of STDs continue to increase at staggering levels, remaining a considerable public health threat in the

According to CDC estimates, approximately 19 million STD infections occur in the United States each year, costing the U.S. health care system as much as $15.3 billion annually. In 2007, reported cases of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea exceeded 1.4 million, with Chlamydia setting a record for number of cases reported to CDC for any condition at 1.1 million. The number of new syphilis infections rose by 15.2% from 2006 to 2007. As these rates of infection continue to climb, federal funding levels for the CDC’s Division of STD Prevention have steadily deceased since Fiscal Year (FY 2003). In light of this new data, the CDC has called for a comprehensive approach to STD prevention through screening, treatment, and behavioral interventions, with an emphasis on reducing health disparities.

The full CDC report, Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 2007, is available Here.

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