Trends and Insights
To support public awareness, continuous provider education, evidence-based public health interventions and research efforts, the Office of Sexual Health & Epidemiology (OSHE) developed a series of infographics known as Data Insights on Sexual Health (DISH). These documents focus on sexually transmitted infection (STI) trends, disparities, education, prevention, and treatment opportunities in New York State. Each of the DISHes are tailored for a specific type of audience, which may include public health professionals, researchers, community-based agencies, local health departments, healthcare providers, funders, and/or community advocates.
To date, OSHE has published four DISHes, with topics about the increase in syphilis, the potential impact of static federal funding, understanding and preventing mpox, and racial and ethnic disparities in STI diagnoses.
Below we highlight two of these published reports:
syphilis on the rise
One of the most alarming trends in recent years is the sharp rise in syphilis cases across New York State.
According to the NYS OSHE DISH:
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- Early syphilis diagnoses (infections acquired in the past 12 months) were over 12x higher in 2023 as compared to 2000.
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- While diagnoses rates in 2023 decreased for the first time in ten years, persistent disparities remain:
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- Early syphilis rates in 2023 were highest among Multiracial and Black New Yorkers.
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- While diagnoses rates in 2023 decreased for the first time in ten years, persistent disparities remain:
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- From 2019-2023, early syphilis diagnoses among females aged 15-44 nearly doubled from 451 to 888, corresponding with a rise in newborns with syphilis.
To explore these facts and more, visit the Sexual Health Data Brief: Issue 1 – Syphilis.
tracking mpox
In 2023, mpox was formally included in New York State’s annual STI surveillance report for the first time, reflecting its increasing transmission through sexual contact. The majority of mpox cases have been reported among men who have sex with men, with sexual contact being the most frequently reported mode of transmission.
OSHE’s DISH, Mpox in New York State: Understanding and Preventing the Spread, provides essential information on symptoms, prevention, how it spreads, and community-specific risk. This inclusion in STI surveillance represents a vital step in recognizing mpox as a major public health concern.