### U.S. Sees Significant Decrease in Syphilis and Gonorrhea Cases in 2023

In a surprising turn of events, federal data reflects a substantial slowdown in the spread of the U.S. syphilis epidemic last year, with marked declines in gonorrhea cases as well, and chlamydia cases remaining under prepandemic levels. This report, released by health authorities on Tuesday, marks a positive shift in sexually transmitted disease (STD) trends following years of alarming increases.

The most striking change was observed in syphilis, particularly at its most infectious stages, which saw a 10% reduction in cases—the largest decline in over 20 years. Gonorrhea cases also fell by 7%, continuing a downward trend for the second year in a row. Overall, more than 2.4 million cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia were reported last year, comprising 1.6 million cases of chlamydia, 600,000 of gonorrhea, and over 209,000 of syphilis.

"I'm encouraged, and it's been a long time since I felt that way," commented Dr. Jonathan Mermin of the CDC, hinting at successful strategies in combating the nation's STD crisis.

However, the report wasn't entirely positive; syphilis in newborns rose with nearly 4,000 cases, including 279 stillbirths and infant deaths. This particular increase highlighted the need for more rigorous testing among pregnant women, according to Dr. Jeffrey Klausner from the University of Southern California.

Experts attribute these positive trends, in part, to the increased use of doxycycline as a preventive measure. When taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, this antibiotic has shown to significantly reduce the risk of developing syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. The CDC officially recommended its use for gay and bisexual men and transgender women who recently had an STD diagnosis in June, although some local health departments had already been offering it.

Additionally, the 2022 mpox outbreak, which mainly affected gay and bisexual men, may have influenced a more cautious approach to sexual health in 2023, driving an uptick in testing and awareness.

Congress provided a significant $1.2 billion funding boost to expand the public health workforce over five years, with $600 million allocated to STD prevention. This influx of resources led to increased testing, contact tracing, and treatment efforts. However, last year's debt ceiling deal prematurely ended this funding, trimming $400 million from the initial budget and resulting in job losses among health workers.

Despite these financial setbacks, Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, remains hopeful due to the growing use of preventive measures and potential advancements like at-home STD test kits. Public health experts suggest that future administrations could further support STD prevention, reminiscent of Trump’s 2019 campaign to significantly reduce HIV infections.

Dr. Klausner emphasized, "When the government puts in resources, puts in money, we see declines in STDs," underscoring the essential role of sustained funding and political will in tackling the nation's STD crises.