STI Outbreak in Alaska

Gonorrhea Outbreak in Alaska Highlights a National Public Health Crisis

In a recent article for Psychology Today, Dr. Jay Varma reports on a deeply concerning outbreak of invasive gonorrhea in Alaska — and how federal cuts to CDC programs have left states like Alaska without critical support in detecting and stopping such threats.

Since 2022, Alaska has seen a tenfold rise in cases of disseminated gonorrhea — a rare and dangerous form of the infection that can lead to hospitalization, joint damage, and even infected heart valves. Nearly 90% of patients have required hospitalization, many with co-existing conditions like HIV or hepatitis C.

At the very moment this outbreak has emerged, two of the CDC’s key STD response programs — its lab reference branch and field response unit — have been eliminated. These teams were vital in identifying resistant strains, supporting local labs, and conducting contact tracing. Without them, local health departments are left to confront emerging STIs with fewer tools and less capacity.

📖 Read the full article on Psychology Today:
👉 STI Outbreak in Alaska