The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) says sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) continued to rise in 2019, according to their annual report.
MDH said syphilis was especially concerning since there were 1,127 syphilis cases reported in 2019, which is a 23% increase from 2018.
Syphilis cases have not only increased in Minnesota but also across the country, MDH states.
State officials are using a new method for outbreak detection that examines an average of syphilis rates over a longer period of time.
“Our improved analysis of syphilis data has shown a more detailed picture of how syphilis is impacting counties across the state,” MDH State Epidemiologist and Medical Director Dr. Ruth Lynfield said. “We are now able to identify hotspots earlier than before and complete a more real-time look into what is going on in these areas.”
Officials found that new infections are particularly affecting:
- Females, especially those who are pregnant or of childbearing age.
- Males, particularly among men who have sex with men.
- People who inject drugs.
- People experiencing homelessness.
- People co-infected with HIV and hepatitis A and C.
Congenital syphilis cases, which is syphilis in a fetus or infant at birth, is also on the rise. Congenital syphilis can cause serious complications such as miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, birth defects and infant death, according to MDH.
The following are other key findings from the 2019 STD report:
- Chlamydia, the number one reported infectious disease in the state, increased by 4% to 24,535 cases in 2019.
- Gonorrhea remained the second most commonly reported STD in Minnesota with 8,063 cases reported in 2019, a 7% increase.
- Syphilis overall increased by 23% with 1,127 cases in 2019. There were 385 primary and secondary syphilis cases reported in 2019, a 32% increase. Minnesota congenital syphilis cases increased in 2019 by 110% to 21 cases.
