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New CDC Data Show Syphilis Increasing in MenGonorrhea Cases at All Time Low; The national syphilis rate in the United States increased for the fourth consecutive year in 2004, according to new data on nationally notifiable sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report, which provides data on three STDs chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis also finds that in 2004, the gonorrhea rate reached an all-time low, and chlamydia rates increased, possibly due to expanded and improved screening. Syphilis continues to increase in men The rise in the national P&S syphilis rate is largely due to increases among men. Overall, the P&S syphilis rate among men increased 11.9 percent from 2003 to 2004 (4.2 cases per 100,000 to 4.7 cases per 100,000) and 81 percent since 2000 (2.6 cases per 100,000 to 4.7 cases per 100,000). While surveillance data are not available by risk behavior, a separate CDC analysis suggests that approximately 64 percent of all adult P&S syphilis cases in 2004 were among men who have sex with men, up from an estimated 5 percent in 1999. Significant progress in addressing the syphilis epidemic has been made as a result of CDCs National Plan to Eliminate Syphilis, launched in 1999. Between 1999 and 2004, black P&S rates have decreased 37 percent (14.3 to 9.0 cases per 100,000), while rates among women overall have decreased 55 percent (2.0 to 0.9 cases per 100,000). However, in 2004, for the first time in over a decade, the P&S syphilis rate increased in blacks, rising 16.9 percent (7.7 cases per 100,000 in 2003 to 9.0 cases per 100,000 in 2004). Mirroring overall trends, this increase was primarily due to a 22.6 percent increase in the P&S rate among black men (from 11.5 cases per 100,000 to 14.1 cases per 100,000). After years of steady decline, the P&S syphilis rate among women held steady at 0.8 per 100,000 in 2004. Syphilis increases, especially among men who have sex with men, demonstrate the need to continually adapt our strategies to eliminate syphilis in the United States, said Dr. Ronald O. Valdiserri, acting director of CDCs HIV, STD and TB prevention programs. While there is no silver bullet to reduce syphilis rates, innovative screening and prevention programs around the country are having a positive impact in many areas and providing crucial lessons that will help us meet new challenges. In 2003, CDC partnered with health departments and community groups in cities with the highest syphilis rates to implement strategies to better address the disease. The results of these efforts were recently reported in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases (Vol. 32, No. 10 Supplement). A wide range of approaches were evaluated and results suggest that increased syphilis awareness in the community and among health care providers caring for men who have sex with men can increase early treatment. Efforts to improve partner counseling, testing and referral services can also play a key role in outbreak control. CDC is also working with public health and community partners to refine the National Plan to Eliminate Syphilis in order to address the resurgence of syphilis among men who have sex with men and continue the significant reductions already seen in some populations. Gonorrhea rate reaches new low, but significant challenges persist CDC conducted sentinel surveillance in 28 cities and found the proportion of cases resistant to fluoroquinolone antibiotics (a first-line treatment for gonorrhea) increased from 4.1 percent in 2003 to 6.8 percent in 2004. Resistance is especially worrisome in men who have sex with men, where it was eight times higher than among heterosexuals (23.8 percent vs. 2.9 percent). In April 2004, CDC recommended that fluoroquinolones no longer be used as treatment for gonorrhea among men who have sex with men. These antibiotics were also not recommended to treat the disease in anyone in California or Hawaii, where resistance has been widespread for years. Outside of these states, the prevalence of fluoroquinolone resistance among heterosexuals remains low at 1.3 percent. Racial disparities in gonorrhea were seen in 2004. Blacks were most affected, with a rate 19 times higher than that of whites (629.6 cases per 100,000 vs. 33.3 cases per 100,000). Chlamydia screening efforts lead to more reported cases Reported cases are just the tip of the iceberg. Health care providers urgently need to step up screening for chlamydia, particularly among young, sexually active women, who are at greatest risk of infertility and other complications if the disease is not diagnosed and treated, said Dr. John Douglas, director of CDCs STD prevention programs. The rate of reported chlamydia cases were 3.3 times higher among women than men in 2004 (485 cases vs. 147.1 per 100,000), most likely due to increased screening among women. Health and Economic Impact of STDs The full report, Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2004, is available at www.cdc.gov/std/stats. |
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2005 United
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