Sexually Transmitted Disease
(STD) Surveillance Report,
2015
Minnesota Department of Health STD Surveillance System
STD/HIV/TB Section
Introduction

Under Minnesota law, physicians and laboratories must report
all laboratory-confirmed cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea,
syphilis, and chancroid to the Minnesota Department of Health
(MDH) within one working day.

The MDH does not maintain statistics for other, non-reportable
STDs (ex: herpes, HPV/genital warts).

This slide set describes trends in reportable STDs in Minnesota
by person, place, and time.

Analyses exclude cases reported from federal and private
prisons.
Introduction

STD surveillance is the systematic collection
of data from cases for the purpose of
monitoring the frequency and distribution
of STDs in a given population.

STD surveillance data are used to detect
problems, prioritize resources, develop and
target interventions, and evaluate the
effectiveness of interventions.
Interpreting STD Surveillance Data


Factors that impact the completeness and
accuracy of STD data include:
 Level of STD screening by healthcare providers
 Individual test-seeking behavior
 Sensitivity of diagnostic tests
 Compliance with case reporting
 Completeness of case reporting
 Timeliness of case reporting
Increases and decreases in STD rates can be due
to actual changes in disease occurrence and/or
changes in one or more of the above factors
Interpreting STD Surveillance Data

The surveillance system only includes cases with a positive laboratory test.
Cases diagnosed solely on symptoms are not counted.

Since 2012 we have included cases that had only a lab report and no
corresponding case report form. This has increased the number of
unknowns in some variables.

Surveillance data represent cases of infection, not individuals. A person
with multiple infections in a given year will be counted more than once.

Caution is warranted when interpreting changes in STD numbers that can
seem disproportionately large when the number of cases is small.
National Context
Chlamydia — Rates of Reported Cases by State,
United States and Outlying Areas, 2014
NOTE: The total rate of reported cases of chlamydia for the United States and outlying areas (Guam, Puerto Rico, and
Virgin Islands) was 452.6 per 100,000 population.
2014-Fig 3. SR, Pg 9
Gonorrhea — Rates of Reported Cases by State,
United States and Outlying Areas, 2014
NOTE: The total rate of reported cases of gonorrhea for the United States and outlying areas (Guam,
Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands) was 109.6 per 100,000 population.
2014-Fig 15. SR Pg 20
Primary and Secondary Syphilis—Rates of Reported Cases by State,
United States and Outlying Areas, 2014
NOTE: The total rate of primary and secondary syphilis for the United States and outlying areas (Guam,
Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands) was 6.4 per 100,000 population.
2014-Fig 35. SR, Pg 35
Overview of STDs in Minnesota
STDs in Minnesota
Rate per 100,000 by Year of Diagnosis, 2005-2015
Gonorrhea
P&S* Syphilis
450
10
400
9
350
8
300
250
200
150
7
6
5
4
3
100
2
50
1
0
0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
* P&S = Primary and Secondary
Year
Rate of P&S Syphilis
Rate of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
Chlamydia
STDs in Minnesota:
Number of Cases Reported in 2015

Total of 25,989 STD cases reported to MDH in
2015:




21,238 Chlamydia cases
4,097 Gonorrhea cases
654 Syphilis cases (all stages)
0 Chancroid cases
CHLAMYDIA
Lake of the Woods
Kittson
Roseau
Marshall
Koochiching
Pennington
Beltrami
Cook
Clearwater
Red Lake
Polk
Norman
Mahnomen
Clay
Becker
2015 Minnesota
Chlamydia Rates
by County
Lake
St. Louis
Itasca
Hubbard
Cass
Aitkin
Crow Wing
Wadena
Otter Tail
Mille Lacs
Traverse
Big Stone
Rate per 100,000 persons
0 - 75
76 - 150
Pine
Todd
Grant
Carlton
Morrison
Douglas
Kanabec
Wilkin
151 - 300
> 300
Benton
Stevens
Pope
Stearns
Isanti
Sherburne
Kandiyohi
Swift
Chippewa
Wright
Meeker
City of Minneapolis
City of St. Paul
Suburban#
Greater Minnesota
Washington
Ramsey
Hennepin
Lac Qui Parle
McLeod
Yellow Medicine
Chisago
Anoka
Renville
Carver
Scott
Dakota
1124
868
310
269
Sibley
Lincoln Lyon
Redwood
Nicollet
Rice
Wabasha
Cottonwood
Blue Earth
Watonwan
Rock
Nobles
Jackson
Martin
Faribault
Waseca
Brown
Murray
Pipestone
(1,107 cases missing residence information)
Goodhue
Le Sueur
Steele Dodge Olmsted
Freeborn
Mower
Fillmore
7-county metro area, excluding the
cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul
#
Winona
Houston
Chlamydia Infections by Residence at
Diagnosis Minnesota, 2015
Total Number of Cases = 21,238
Unknown
5%
Minneapolis
20%
Greater MN
31%
St. Paul
12%
Suburban
32%
Suburban = Seven-county metro area including Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin (excluding Minneapolis), Ramsey (excluding St. Paul),
Scott, and Washington counties. Greater MN = All other Minnesota counties outside the seven-county metro area.
Chlamydia Rates by Gender
Minnesota, 2005-2015
Rate per 100,000 persons
Males
Females
Overall
470
484
504
528
443
416
347
357
371
390
400
388
319
241
251
259
275
272
144
145
2005
2006
2007
158
154
2008
2009
353
292
271
193
134
340
375
206
220
244
167
2010
Year
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Chlamydia Rates by Age
Minnesota, 2005-2015
Rate per 100,000 persons
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-39
2142
2244
2336
2015
1907
1651
1539
1341
1363
1423
1162
983
607
1018
683
1507
1220
1316
1385
1458
1394
1402
1061
1059
649
669
1403
639
698
719
771
177
184
213
217
216
230
242
273
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Year
843
291
2013
932
348
2014
402
2015
Males
Females
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-39
AGE IN YEARS
40-44
45-49
9
25
43
72
109
150
434
5
81
370
560
864
1258
1417
2289
RATE PER 100,000 PERSONS
3284
Age-Specific Chlamydia Rates by Gender
Minnesota, 2015
50+
Chlamydia Rates by Race/Ethnicity
Minnesota, 2005-2015
Rate per 100,000 persons
White
Black
American Indian
Asian/PI
Hispanic*
1727
1631
1519
1527
1619
1611
1524
1517
1421
711
465
1587
1661
2015 rates compared with Whites:
Black = 9x higher
American Indian = 4x higher
Asian/PI = 2x higher
Hispanic = 3x higher
830
680
480
653
730
649
424
458
706
744
780
590
383
405
434
263
284
313
376
284
379
289
269
273
265
293
115
122
125
130
127
143
162
151
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Year
* Persons of Hispanic ethnicity can be of any race.
703
440
507
312
334
158
178
188
2013
2014
2015
Chlamydia Rates by Race/Ethnicity
Minnesota, 2005-2015
White
American Indian
Asian/PI
Hispanic*
830
Rate per 100,000 persons
780
711
744
730
680
653
706
703
649
590
465
507
480
424
458
383
269
273
265
293
263
405
284
115
122
125
130
127
143
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Year
* Persons of Hispanic ethnicity can be of any race.
440
434
376
313
379
284
289
162
151
158
2011
2012
2013
312
334
178
188
2014
2015
GONORRHEA
Lake of the Woods
Kittson
Roseau
Marshall
Koochiching
Pennington
Beltrami
Cook
Clearwater
Red Lake
Polk
Norman
2015 Minnesota
Gonorrhea Rates
by County
Lake
St. Louis
Itasca
Mahnomen
Hubbard
Becker
Clay
Cass
Crow Wing
Wadena
Aitkin
Rate per 100,000 persons
Carlton
Wilkin
Otter Tail
Benton
Pope
Stearns
Isanti
Sherburne
Swift
Chisago
Anoka
Kandiyohi
Meeker
Wright
Chippewa
City of Minneapolis
City of St. Paul
Suburban#
Greater Minnesota
Ramsey
Lac qui Parle
Hennepin
McLeod
Yellow Medicine
30 - 100
> 100
Washington
Stevens
Big Stone
Kanabec
Morrison
Douglas
Mille Lacs
Traverse
Todd
Grant
0 - 10
11 - 29
Pine
Carver
Renville
Dakota
Scott
Sibley
Lincoln
Lyon
Redwood
Nicollet
Le Sueur Rice
Rock
Nobles
(139 cases missing residence information)
Goodhue
Wabasha
Brown
Murray
Pipestone
7-county metro area, excluding the
cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul
#
Cottonwood
Jackson
Blue Earth
Watonwan
Waseca
Martin
Faribault
376
230
49
32
Steele
Freeborn
Dodge Olmsted
Mower
Fillmore
Winona
Houston
Gonorrhea Infections in Minnesota
by Residence at Diagnosis, 2015
Total Number of Cases= 4,097
Unknown
4%
Greater MN
19%
Suburban
26%
Minneapolis
35%
St. Paul
16%
Suburban = Seven-county metro area including Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin (excluding Minneapolis), Ramsey (excluding St. Paul),
Scott, and Washington counties. Greater MN = All other Minnesota counties outside the seven-county metro area.
Gonorrhea Rates by Gender
Minnesota, 2005-2015
Rate per 100,000 persons
Males
Females
Overall
92
86
75
68
62
70
64
58
76
73
70
74
67
59
63
58
53
63
58
53
48
44
40
47
41
34
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Year
77
67
77
63
48
43
38
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Gonorrhea Rates by Age
Minnesota, 2005-2015
Rate per 100,000 persons
15-19
285
210
194
285
214
178
20-24
25-29
297
214
216
217
165
169
2006
238
83
2007
213
177
174
159
123
95
105
2009
103
86
69
2008
218
142
50
2005
227
186
117
75
352
267
146
84
362
290
275
228
360
30-39
65
38
45
2010
2011
Year
2012
2013
2014
2015
Age-Specific Gonorrhea Rates by Gender
Minnesota, 2015
Rate per 100,000 persons
400
350
Males
300
Females
250
200
150
100
50
0
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-39
Age in Years
40-44
45-49
50+
Rate per 100,000 persons
Gonorrhea Rates by Race/Ethnicity
Minnesota, 2005-2015
709
720
2015 rates compared with Whites:
Black = 16x higher
American Indian = 7x higher
Asian/PI = 0x higher
Hispanic = 2x higher
690
611
591
543
488
406
166
171
61
29
22
74
24
18
132
67
22
16
2005
2006
2007
102
47
24
19
98
34
15
13
2008
2009
* Persons of Hispanic ethnicity can be of any race.
White
Black
376
518
410
217
218
152
165
70
30
15
13
94
37
16
15
35
27
19
53
32
23
75
39
31
81
44
33
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Year
American Indian
Asian/PI
Hispanic*
Gonorrhea Rates by Race/Ethnicity
Minnesota, 2005-2015
White
American Indian
Asian/PI
Hispanic*
Rate per 100,000 persons
217
166
171
218
165
152
132
102
74
61
98
94
75
70
67
53
47
29
22
24
18
22
16
24
19
2005
2006
2007
2008
34
30
15
13
15
13
2009
2010
Year
* Persons of Hispanic ethnicity can be of any race.
37
16
15
35
27
19
32
23
2011
2012
2013
81
39
31
44
33
2014
2015
SYPHILIS
Syphilis Rates by Stage of Diagnosis Minnesota,
2005-2015
All Stages
P&S*
Early Latent
Rate per 100,000 persons
11.9
12.3
10.1
6.6
6.9
6.3
5
4.1
3.6
4.8
4.1
3.6
3.6
2.8
2.2
1.4
0.9
1.1
0.9
1.1
0.9
1.3
0.9
1.4
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
* P&S = Primary and Secondary
Year
2.6
2.3
2011
2.2
1.8
2012
2.6
2013
3
2014
4.6
3.5
2015
Lake of the Woods
Kittson
Roseau
Marshall
Koochiching
Pennington
Beltrami
Cook
Clearwater
Red Lake
Polk
Norman
Lake
St. Louis
Itasca
Mahnomen
2015 Minnesota
Primary & Secondary
Syphilis Rates by
County
Hubbard
Becker
Clay
Cass
Crow Wing
Wadena
Aitkin
Carlton
Wilkin
Otter Tail
Morrison
Douglas
Benton
Stevens
Pope
Stearns
Big Stone
Isanti
Sherburne
Swift
Wright
Meeker
Chippewa
Washington
Anoka
Kandiyohi
Hennepin
Lac qui Parle
City of Minneapolis
City of St. Paul
Suburban#
Greater Minnesota
Ramsey
McLeod
Yellow Medicine
0 – 0.5
0.6 – 1.0
1.1 - 2.0
> 2.0
Kanabec
Chisago
Grant
Rate per 100,000 persons
Pine
Mille Lacs
Traverse
Todd
Carver
Renville
Scott
Dakota
Sibley
Lincoln Lyon
Redwood
Nicollet
Le Sueur
Rice
Goodhue
Wabasha
Brown
Pipestone Murray
Cottonwood
Watonwan
Rock
Nobles
Jackson
Martin
Blue Earth Waseca
Faribault
Steele
Freeborn
Dodge Olmsted
Mower
7-county metro area, excluding the
cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul
#
Winona
Fillmore
33.7 (129 cases)
8.1 (23 cases)
3.1 (68 cases)
1.1 (26 cases)
Houston
Primary & Secondary Syphilis Infections
in Minnesota by Residence at Diagnosis, 2015
Total Number of Cases = 246
Greater MN
11%
Unknown
0%
Minneapolis
52%
Suburban
28%
St. Paul
9%
Suburban = Seven-county metro area including Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin (excluding Minneapolis), Ramsey (excluding St. Paul),
Scott, and Washington counties. Greater MN = All other Minnesota counties outside the seven-county metro area.
Primary & Secondary Syphilis Rates by Gender
Minnesota, 2005-2015
8.9
7.9
Rate per 100,000 persons
6.8
5.4
5.1
4.3
4.8
4.6
4.2
3.6
2.7
2.7
2.2
1.4
2.8
2.6
2.2
2.2
1.7
0.9
0.1
0.2
2005
2006
0
2007
1.5
1.3
1.1
0.8
0.2
2008
Males
0
2009
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.4
2010
2011
2012
2013
Year
Females
Overall
2014
2015
Primary & Secondary Syphilis Rates by Age
Minnesota, 2005-2015
Rate per 100,000 persons
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-39
40-49
14.9
13.4
13.4
9.4
9.5
11.3
9.6
6.7
3.5
2.7
2.6
1.9
6.4
3.4
3
2.3
0.3
1.4
0.5
3.3
2.5
2
1.4
0.5
0.8
0.5
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
4.8
4
3.8
1.6
2010
7.5
7.3
7
5.5
4.9
4.1
2.9
2.4
9.3
5.1
4.5
4.2
0.8
1.1
2011
2012
4.9
7
5.4
5.9
2.7
2.7
2014
2015
0.5
2013
Year
D
Age-Specific Primary & Secondary Syphilis
Rates by Gender, Minnesota, 2015
25
Males
Rate per 100,000 persons
20
Females
15
10
5
0
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-39
40-44
Age in Years
45-49
50+
Primary & Secondary Syphilis Cases by Race
Minnesota, 2015
Total Number of Cases = 246
Asian/PI
3%
Other*
Unknown
2%
3%
American
Indian
3%
White
56%
Black
33%
*Includes persons reported with more than one race
Rate per 100,000 persons
30
Primary & Secondary Syphilis Rates by
Race/Ethnicity
Minnesota, 2005-2015
25
White
Black
American Indian
Asian/PI
Hispanic*
20
15
10
5
0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
* Persons of Hispanic ethnicity can be of any race.
Year
CHLAMYDIA AND GONORRHEA AMONG
ADOLESCENTS & YOUNG ADULTS
Minnesota Department of Health STD Surveillance System
STD/HIV/TB Section
Chlamydia Disproportionately Impacts Youth
MN Population in 2010
Chlamydia Cases in 2015
(n = 21,238) 25-29
(n = 5,303,925)
yrs
19%
35+ yrs
53%
25-34 yrs
13%
30-44
yrs
15%
15-24 yrs
14%
45+ yrs
2%
<15 yrs
20%
15-24
yrs
63%
<15 yrs
1%
Gonorrhea Disproportionately Impacts Youth
MN Population in 2010
Gonorrhea Cases in 2015
(n = 5,303,925)
(n = 4,097)
25-34 yrs
13%
35+ yrs
53%
25-29
yrs
22%
30-44
yrs
24%
45+ yrs
7%
15-24 yrs
14%
<15 yrs
20%
15-24
yrs
46%
<15 yrs
1%
Characteristics of Adolescents & Young Adults†
Diagnosed With Chlamydia or Gonorrhea in 2015
†
Cases
% of Total
Male
Female
Transgender
4,504
10,851
5
29%
71%
White
5,799
38%
Black
3,985
26%
Am Indian
424
3%
Asian/PI
439
3%
Other/Unknown
4,713
31%
TOTAL
15,360
Adolescents defined as 15-19 year-olds; Young Adults defined as 20-24 year-olds.
Characteristics of Adolescents & Young Adults†
Diagnosed With Chlamydia or Gonorrhea in 2015
Cases
% of Total
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
Unknown
885
8,573
5,902
6%
56%
38%
Minneapolis
St. Paul
Suburban MN
Greater MN
Unknown
TOTAL
2,925
1,917
4,699
4,988
831
15,360
19%
12%
31%
32%
5%
Suburban = Seven-county metro area including Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin (excluding Minneapolis), Ramsey (excluding St. Paul),
Scott, and Washington counties. Greater MN = All other Minnesota counties outside the seven-county metro area.
† Adolescents defined as 15-19 year-olds; Young Adults defined as 20-24 year-olds.
Chlamydia Rates Among Adolescents & Young Adults†
by Gender in Minnesota, 2005-2015
Rate per 100,000 persons
Males
Females
2690
2745
2780
2646
812
871
924
980
845
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2506
2334
2103
1834
1871
2124
1955
508
531
544
2005
2006
2007
620
629
661
2008
2009
2010
Year
Rate=Cases per 100,000 persons based on 2010 U.S. Census counts.
† Adolescents defined as 15-19 year-olds; Young Adults defined as 20-24 year-olds.
Chlamydia Cases Among Adolescents and Young Adults†
by Gender and Race, Minnesota, 2015
Males (n = 3,618)
Females (n = 9,847)
Black
30%
White
34%
Black
21%
White
41%
Amer
Indian
3%
Amer
Indian
2%
Unknown
29%
† Adolescents
Other
3%
Asian/PI
2%
defined as 15-19 year-olds; Young Adults defined as 20-24 year-olds.
Asian /
PI
3%
Unknown
29%
Other
3%
Chlamydia Rate Among Adolescents and Young Adults† by
Race, Minnesota, 2015
Rate per 100,000 persons
Males
Females
10,000
9,000
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
White
Black
American
Indian
Rate=Cases per 100,000 persons based on 2010 U.S. Census counts.
† Adolescents defined as 15-19 year-olds; Young Adults defined as 20-24 year-olds.
Asian/PI
Hispanic
Gonorrhea Rates Among Adolescents & Young Adults†
by Gender in Minnesota, 2005-2015
Rate per 100,000 persons
Males
Females
401
338
337
355
337
320
329
283
249
263
258
250
228
158
2005
165
2006
172
2007
171
2008
240
167
134
125
129
2009
2010
2011
Year
Rate=Cases per 100,000 persons based on 2010 U.S. Census counts.
† Adolescents defined as 15-19 year-olds; Young Adults defined as 20-24 year-olds.
2012
2013
2014
2015
Gonorrhea Cases Among Adolescents and Young Adults†
by Gender and Race, 2015
Males (n = 886)
White
30%
Females (n = 1004)
Black
43%
Amer
Indian
3%
Unknown
18%
† Adolescents
Other
3%
Black
45%
Amer
Indian
6%
White
24%
Asian/PI
3%
defined as 15-19 year-olds; Young Adults defined as 20-24 year-olds.
Unknown
21%
Asian /
PI
Other
2%
2%
Gonorrhea Rate Among Adolescents and Young Adults†
by Race, Minnesota, 2015
Rate per 100,000 persons
Males
Females
2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
White
Black
American
Indian
Rate=Cases per 100,000 persons based on 2010 U.S. Census counts.
† Adolescents defined as 15-19 year-olds; Young Adults defined as 20-24 year-olds.
Asian/PI
Hispanic
Summary of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Among
Adolescents and Young Adults†, Minnesota, 2015

Adolescents and young adults accounted for 63% of
chlamydia and 46% of gonorrhea cases diagnosed in
Minnesota.

71% of chlamydia or gonorrhea cases diagnosed
among adolescents and young adults were females.

Whites and Blacks accounted for 39% and 26% of
chlamydia or gonorrhea cases, respectively.

32% of gonorrhea or chlamydia cases were in the
Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
† Adolescents
defined as 15-19 year-olds; Young Adults defined as 20-24 year-olds.
Topic of Interest: Early Syphilis Among
Men Who Have Sex With Men
in Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Health STD Surveillance System
STD/HIV/TB Section
Number of Early Syphilis† Cases by Gender
Minnesota, 2005-2015
All Male
MSM
Women
374
Number of Cases
341
298
247
209
185
91
82
8
14
2005
2006
111
103
222
218
196
158
138
110
99
283
261
158
106
96
88
2
5
9
15
13
18
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
30
2013
41
2014
Year
MSM=Men who have sex with men.
Figure does not include cases diagnosed in transgender persons (1 each in 2005, 2007, 2009, 4 in 2013, 1 in 2014, 2 in 2015).
† Early Syphilis includes primary, secondary, and early latent stages of syphilis.
2015
Early Syphilis† Cases by Stage at Diagnosis
Minnesota, 2005-2015
Number of Cases
416
431
332
259
221
214
185
163
119
105
117
114
49
48
22
58
27
20
55
38
21
2005
2006
2007
71
47
45
2008
98
72
51
46
41
30
2009
2010
120
88
51
96
66
52
2011
2012
Year
Primary
Secondary
† Early Syphilis includes primary, secondary, and early latent stages of syphilis.
Early Latent
Total
139
117
159
156
101
132
114
76
2013
2014
2015
Early Syphilis† by Gender and Sexual Behavior
Minnesota, 2005-2015
Year
Early Syphilis Cases
Male Cases (%)
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
116
104
114
163
117
221
260
214
332
416
431
109 (94)
90 (88)
111 (97)
158 (97)
106 (91)
207 (94)
246 (95)
196 (92)
298 (90)
374 (90)
341 (79)
MSM=Men who have sex with men
† Early Syphilis includes primary, secondary, and early latent stages of syphilis.
MSM Cases
(% of males)
100 (92)
80 (89)
103 (93)
140 (89)
96 (91)
185 (89)
218 (89)
158 (81)
261 (88)
283 (76)
222 (65)
Early Syphilis† Cases Among MSM by Age
Minnesota, 2015 (n=222)
NUMBER OF CASES
Mean Age = 36 years
Range: 18 to 68 years
42
29
28
28
31
24
20
12
8
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
AGE IN YEARS
MSM=Men who have sex with men
† Early Syphilis includes primary, secondary, and early latent stages of syphilis.
40-44
45-49
50-54
55+
Early Syphilis† (ES) Cases
Co-infected with HIV, 2007-2015
All ES Cases
MSM ES Cases
Percent HIV Positive
59%
57%
57%
49%
49%
56%
54%
45%
41%
45%
46%
50%
47%
46%
40%
38%
37%
32%
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Year
MSM=Men who have sex with men
† Early Syphilis includes primary, secondary, and early latent stages of syphilis.
2012
2013
2014
2015
Characteristics of Early Syphilis† Cases
Among MSM, Minnesota, 2015

Gay and bisexual men account for 65% of cases among men.

75% of cases among MSM are White, but a disproportionate
number of cases (14%) are African American.

51% in the City of Minneapolis and 27% live in the suburbs

56% of cases are also infected with HIV.
MSM=Men who have sex with men
† Early Syphilis includes primary, secondary, and early latent stages of syphilis.
Topic of Interest: Syphilis Among
Females and Congenital Syphilis
in Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Health STD Surveillance System
STD/HIV/TB Section
Syphilis Among Females, Minnesota,
2015

Primary Syphilis – 18 cases

Secondary Syphilis – 21 Cases
Early Latent Syphilis – 49 cases
Late Latent Syphilis – 85 cases


Female Early Syphilis Cases
109
88
Number of Cases
83
74
52
41
30
22
22
17
7
10
13
12
9
14
6
Year
8
2
5
9
14
13
18
Early Syphilis Infections in Women
in Minnesota by Residence at Diagnosis, 2015
Total Number of Cases = 88
Greater MN
7%
Unknown
0%
Minneapolis
51%
Suburban
30%
St. Paul
12%
Suburban = Seven-county metro area including Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin (excluding Minneapolis), Ramsey (excluding St. Paul),
Scott, and Washington counties. Greater MN = All other Minnesota counties outside the seven-county metro area.
Early Syphilis Cases in Females by Race
Minnesota, 2015
Total Number of Cases = 88
Asian/PI
3%
Other*
Unknown
1%
5%
White
31%
American
Indian
19%
*Includes persons reported with more than one race
Black
41%
What’s Being Done in Minnesota?

The MDH Partner Services Program continues to follow up on
early syphilis cases and their sex partners and all pregnant
syphilis cases.

All HIV/Syphilis co-infected cases are assigned to Partner
Services for follow-up.

Physicians are encouraged to screen men who have sex with
men at least annually and to ask about sex partners.

All pregnant females should be screened for syphilis at first
prenatal visit, 28 weeks’ gestation (at minimum 28-36 weeks),
and at delivery.
STD Surveillance Summary
Minnesota Department of Health STD Surveillance System
STD/HIV/TB Section
Summary of STD Trends in Minnesota

From 2005-2015, the chlamydia rate increased by 66%. The rate of
gonorrhea remained the same between 2014 & 2015. Rates of reported
syphilis increased in 2015 compared to 2014 by 3%.

Minnesota has seen a resurgence of syphilis over the past decade, with men
who have sex with men and those co-infected with HIV being especially
impacted. However, the number of females is at a record high for the last
decade.

Persons of color continue to be disproportionately affected by STDs.

STD rates are highest in the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. However,
chlamydia and gonorrhea cases in the Twin Cities suburbs and Greater
Minnesota account for 63% of the reported cases in 2015.

Adolescents and young adults (15-24 years) have the highest rates of
chlamydia and gonorrhea, making up 61% of new infections in 2015.

Between 2014 and 2015, early syphilis cases increased by 4%. Men who
have sex with men comprised 65% of all male cases in 2015; cases among
women are continuing to increase.
Future Updates to STD Reporting

New case report form to accommodate changes in treatment
guidelines

Case report form is be able to be filled out on a computer and
printed to be mailed or faxed in

All cases co-infected with HIV (diagnosed in the last
year)/Gonorrhea, HIV/Syphilis, and Early Syphilis will be
continue to be assigned to MDH Partner Services for followup

All Gonorrhea cases continue to have the potential for being
contacted by MDH for additional follow-up
For more information, contact:

STD Surveillance Data
Dawn.Ginzl@state.mn.us, 651-201-4041

MDH Partner Services Program
Brian.Kendrick@state.mn.us, 651-201-4021