Cases of syphilis and other STIs drop in Pennsylvania, new data shows
By Nicole Leonard
Published on April 25, 2026.
Public health teams across Pennsylvania have been aggressively targeting sexually transmitted infections after cases increased nationally during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. New preliminary state data indicates that cases of syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea in the commonwealth dropped between 2024 and 2025, according to state data. The biggest declines were in new cases of gonorhea, which can be transmitted during sex, and syphilis infections also dropped. However, Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen acknowledged that there is still a lot of work to be done. Key initiatives include providing free STI counseling, testing and treatment in counties that do not have local health departments. Delaware County has been proactive in expanding access to STI prevention tools, testing, and treatment, while STI rates remain higher than state averages. County initiatives include the Test & Go kiosks program, which provides free condoms and test kits for STIs and HIV, and expanded hours at its brick-and-mortar clinics.
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