STDs 'out of control' in US
Sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise in the United States. The number of syphilis cases increased by 26 percent last year. In this context, US health officials have been urged to accelerate prevention and treatment measures.
US Centers for Disease Control and Health official Leandro Mina said on Monday (September 19) that we are working to diagnose and prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
The number of cases of gonorrhea and syphilis has been increasing over the years. In 2021, the number of syphilis cases reached a record level. The number of HIV patients also increased by 16 percent in 2021.
In addition, this year, the increase in maxipox outbreaks has increased the concern in the United States. Because monkeypox is transmitted mainly through sex.
David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, called the situation "out of control."
Mike Sugg, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, says it's a very common occurrence. When people have unprotected sex, sexually transmitted diseases develop.
urge increased use of condoms to combat the situation. Besides, he advised to have a test kit to check if someone is infected with sexually transmitted diseases.
Syphilis is a bacterial disease. which appears as genital sores. If left untreated, it can lead to serious symptoms and even death.
In the 1940s, new syphilis infections declined in the United States. But around 2002, syphilis started to rise again. It is mainly found in homosexual and bisexual men. In 2013, the number of people infected with syphilis exceeded 17 thousand. In 2020, the number of people affected by this disease reached 41 thousand 700. And in 2021, the number of victims increased to more than 52 thousand.
Most of those affected by sexually transmitted diseases are men who have sex with men. Rates are higher among blacks, Latinos, and Native Americans. Although the incidence rate of women is lower than that of men. But officials say the number of women affected has also increased by 50 percent last year.
Source: The Guardian
