The Pennsylvania Department of Health released a Health Advisory on August 23, 2021:
Summary:
- During Calendar Year (CY) 2020, Pennsylvania (exclusive of Philadelphia) reported a 21.83% increase in gonorrhea, from 9,012 cases reported in all of CY 2019 to 10,980 cases reported in CY 2020.
- The reported 10,980 cases in CY 2020 represents the highest number of Gonorrhea cases in more than 30 years.
- In Pennsylvania (exclusive of Philadelphia) 44 out of 66 counties reported increase in reported Gonorrhea in CY 2020.
- Additionally, during CY 2020, Pennsylvania (exclusive of Philadelphia) reported a 2.49% increase in reported Primary and Secondary (P&S) Syphilis, from 522 cases reported in CY 2019 to 535 cases reported in CY 2020.
- The reported 535 cases reported in CY 2020 represent the highest number of reported P&S cases in approximately 30 years.
- Individuals under age 30 are accounting for a significant portion of the increases in reported STI cases. In CY 2020 this segment of the population represented: 63 percent of the reported gonorrhea, 42 percent of the reported P&S Syphilis, and 83 percent of the reported chlamydia.
- In response to similar increases nationwide and changes in treatment efficacy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated and released the 2020 STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) Treatment Guidelines.
