Surge in Syphilis and Other STDs Strains State Budgets

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The escalation in sexually transmitted diseases, particularly syphilis, has left states grappling with shrinking budgets for combating these health crises.

In Nevada, a startling 44% increase in congenital syphilis from 2021 to 2022 led to an unanticipated reduction in the state’s budget for STD prevention. Despite initially being allocated more than $10 million to fortify its STD initiatives, the state witnessed a 75% reduction in the allocated funds, hindering its ability to tackle the growing syphilis cases, according to Dawn Cribb from the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health.

Multiple states have expressed their concerns to The Big Big News about the adverse ramifications of these budget cuts, particularly citing difficulties in expanding their team of disease intervention specialists who are crucial in contact tracing and outreach efforts. The prevalence of syphilis in the United States, which reached a nadir in 2000, has been ascending almost annually. The year 2021 recorded 176,713 syphilis cases, marking a 31% increase from the previous year.

Sam Burgess, the director for the STD/HIV program at the Louisiana Department of Health, revealed the budgetary strain that his state is experiencing. Louisiana was expected to receive an aggregate of more than $14 million, but the actual funds disbursed amount to $8.6 million, which must be utilized by January 2026. “The deficit in expected funding has us actively seeking alternative means to close the financial gaps,” stated Burgess.

While men who have sex with men continue to be disproportionately affected by syphilis, there is a growing concern about the rising number of pregnant women transmitting the disease to their newborns. The consequences for infants can be severe, ranging from blindness and bone deformities to stillbirths. In 2021, congenital syphilis cases stood at 77.9 per 100,000 live births.

Disease intervention specialists play a crucial role in connecting infected mothers and their partners to appropriate medical care. Timely intervention can significantly reduce the risk of congenital syphilis. “Explaining to a mother unaware of her condition that this could have been preventable is emotionally taxing,” commented Deneshun Graves, a public health investigator with the Houston Health Department.

In Houston, syphilis cases among women have surged by 128% from 2019 to 2022, while the congenital syphilis cases skyrocketed from 16 in 2019 to 151 in 2021. Although the department’s STD/HIV bureau was allocated $10.7 million from federal grants, only 75% of that sum will ultimately be received.

The funds have been primarily used to recruit disease intervention specialists and epidemiologists. Lupita Thornton, a public health investigator manager, emphasized the urgent need for additional resources. “We planned to reduce our investigators’ caseload by hiring more personnel, but that plan is now compromised,” she said.

Mississippi is similarly grappling with an upsurge in congenital syphilis cases, which have increased tenfold from 2016 to 2022. Insufficient funding and limited access to prenatal care are exacerbating the situation.

Dr. Dan Edney, the head of the Mississippi State Department of Health, outlined the difficult choices that lie ahead: “Due to constrained state budgets, we will need to reallocate resources across various programs to bolster our diagnostic and treatment capabilities.”

Arizona currently has the highest congenital syphilis rate in the nation, with 232.3 cases per 100,000 live births. Rebecca Scranton, deputy bureau chief of infectious diseases and services, indicated that although federal funding helped clear a backlog of non-syphilis STD investigations, the fight against syphilis is far from over.

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The Big Big News Health and Science Department is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. All content is the sole responsibility of the AP.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Rise in Syphilis and State Budget Cuts

More about Rise in Syphilis and State Budget Cuts

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: STD Statistics
• Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health: Budget Reports
• Louisiana Department of Health: STD/HIV Program Overview
• Mississippi State Department of Health: Congenital Syphilis Study
• Houston Health Department: STD/HIV Bureau Funding and Reports
• Arizona Department of Health Services: STD Data and Resources
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Health and Science Research Support