America’s STD explosion laid bare and the shocking number of people catching one every minute

Five Americans caught a sexually transmitted infection every minute last year as cases remained at a near record high.

But the CDC says there are signs the STI epidemic is slowing after spiking 90 percent in the last 20 years.

Official data released today showed there were 2.4million sexually transmitted infections in 2023, which was up just 3 percent compared to the previous year.

In recent years, annual infections have increased by more than 30 percent. The CDC said the figures provided a ‘glimmer of hope.’

Jonathan Mermin, Director of CDC’s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, added: ‘After nearly two decades of STI increases, the tide is turning.

‘We must make the most of this moment—let’s further this momentum with creative innovation and further investment in STI prevention.’

A major resurgence of syphilis over the past 20 years, including among newborn babies, has kept doctors awake at night. But after years of double-digit increases, cases rose by just one percent. 

Meanwhile gonorrhea cases fell for a second year, declining 7 percent from 2022 and falling below pre-pandemic levels. Chlamydia case rates remained stable.