Syphilis rates in South Dakota have dropped sharply following a public health effort from the state Department of Health.
State leaders say what was once a health crisis has been stifled, though work always remains when battling STIs.
The state Department of Health reports a drop of 41 percent in year-over-year syphilis cases, and a drop well over 50 percent from the five-year mean.
Kacee Redden-Benz is STI program manager within the DoH. She said it represents a widely successful education and treatment effort.
“We are really mitigating the spread of the infection," Redden-Benz said. "Before, we had such a high rate, fortunately we were able to work with our partners at the state, federal, and tribal levels to really get boots on the ground.”
Redden-Benz said that effort, targeting mainly young adults where they were at, meant more people taking their most intimate healthcare seriously.
“We have implemented a social media awareness campaign for the general public," Redden-Benz said. "We do paid advertisements on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and also Tinder. This is to give direct communication to individuals using those platforms that syphilis is here, and it’s important to go get tested.”
Despite wins over the last five years, the battle against STI transmission isn’t finished yet.
“If you are sexually active, it’s important to look out for your sexual health, which is part of your whole health," Redden-Benz said. "Make sure you’re getting tested on a regular basis. When we’re looking at whole health, sexual and mental health need to be involved in there as well. It’s not something to shy away from just because it seems taboo. This is not a judgement thing, syphilis is very complex.”
Under many insurance plans, screenings for STIs are covered during a regular yearly appointment. Additionally, Redden-Benz said proper usage of condoms can also mitigate the spread of many STIs.