STIs decline in California, thanks to funding secured by End the Epidemics
Contact: media@sfaf.org
April 7, 2026, SAN FRANCISCO–Sexually transmitted infection (STI) data for the state of California, released in early 2026, indicates promising declines in reportable bacterial STIs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and acquired and congenital syphilis. Rates of new STIs in California have been on the decline since 2021, thanks to investments in public health programs and resources.
The statewide coalition End the Epidemics (ETE) is proud to have played a key role in these declining STI rates by securing more than $40 million for California’s STI prevention and response efforts.
“This encouraging new data makes crystal clear that when California makes substantial investments in the foundational public health strategies we know work against STIs, the state sees big results,” said Jonathan Frochtzwajg, Director of Health Justice Policy for San Francisco AIDS Foundation, an ETE member organization. “The persistent advocacy of ETE members across the state was critical in getting us to this point–and will continue to be critical in pushing us beyond it.
Since 2019, ETE has championed investments in the California State Legislature that have helped to dramatically reduce STI transmissions in the state:
- 2019: $5 million for STI prevention and treatment
- 2021: $19 million for California’s response to the intertwined “syndemic” of HIV, hepatitis C, STIs, and overdose
- 2022: $10.3 million for California’s response to the syndemic, plus $17 million specifically for syphilis response
- 2025: $9 million for Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS), public-health workers who play a critical role in stopping the spread of STIs
Some of these funds have supported the implementation of doxy PEP (doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis), which involves taking the medication doxycycline within 72 hours of sex to reduce the risk of bacterial STIs. Doxy PEP was first recommended by CDPH in 2023; recent research has demonstrated the positive impact that this prevention tool is having on a population level.
Other funds secured by ETE have supported linkage to care by DIS workers, expanded testing by local public health departments and community-based organizations, and other effective interventions. The impact on maternal syphilis rates has been dramatic: a decrease by 19% from 2022 to 2024, while national rates increased a total of 28%. For acquired syphilis cases overall, there was a 16.6% decrease from 2023 to 2024.
Other significant improvements:
- 11.7% decrease in chlamydia from 2022 to 2024
- 8.7% decrease in gonorrhea from 2022 to 2024
- 15.9% decline in congenital syphilis from 2023 to 2024
There are disparities in these outcomes by race, gender identity, age, housing status and sexual orientation–with Black and African American populations, people ages 20-24, transgender and gender diverse individuals, people experiencing homelessness, and men who have sex with men identified as priority populations by the California Department of Public Health.
“Funding public health adequately has always been effective if elusive, but especially as the health care safety net and the structures supporting employer-based coverage are becoming so threadbare that you can peer right through them,” says Sebastian Perez, State Affairs Specialist at APLA Health. “End the Epidemics will keep pushing for adequate funding solutions that make essential prevention and treatment for HIV, viral hepatitis, STIs, and overdose accessible and affordable for everyone, no matter where they’re from.”
ETE is currently advocating for the Legislature to invest $166 million in syndemic response in 2026-27. This includes $30 million to sustain the state’s Emergency Department Screening Program, which helps ERs start routinely providing testing for syphilis, as well as HIV and hepatitis C. Without additional funding, the program will end on June 30.
# # #
