HHS Releases Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Progress Report and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Addendum to the STI National Strategic Plan

Highlighting the Department’s Commitment to reduce the burden of STIs in the United States

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the 2021–2023 Progress Report for the Sexually Transmitted Infections National Strategic Plan for the United States: 2021–2025. The progress report provides a high-level overview of progress on select federal agency programs, policies, research, and other activities during fiscal years 2021–2023.

The progress report features an at-a-glance table of the status of seven core indicators and seven disparities indicators, which were identified in the national plan as a quantitative approach to measuring progress on STI prevention and care in the United States. The most recently available data reveal that seven of the indicators have met or are moving toward annual targets and that seven have not met or are moving away from annual targets. Of this latter group, six indicators relate to syphilis, which is the focus of the National Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis Syndemic Federal Task Force led by HHS Assistant Secretary for Health, Admiral Rachel Levine, M.D.

“These data serve as a call to action for continued collaboration in our national response to STIs,” said Admiral Levine.“ Through education, awareness, and increased access to care, we can improve outcomes of syphilis, and other STIs, and safeguard the health of communities across our nation.”

Building on federal efforts to meaningfully prevent and control STIs in the United States, the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Addendum to STI National Strategic Plan sets a unified national response to HSV. HSV is a lifelong condition that spreads primarily from skin-to-skin contact and is one of the most common STIs in the United States. Most people with HSV are asymptomatic and undiagnosed. For those who are symptomatic, HSV can cause recurring outbreaks of painful sores on the mouth or genital areas, and the stigma associated with HSV can significantly impact quality of life.

HSV was not initially included in the national strategy, which focused on chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and human papillomavirus. This is because the plan originally focused on STIs in the United States for which there are federally funded control programs. Additionally, HSV is not a nationally notifiable condition and there is no existing national surveillance system for HSV or neonatal herpes to measure progress. Likewise, diagnosing genital herpes can be challenging, since many people do not have symptoms.

“HSV is a critical priority for us. Future iterations of the STI Plan will incorporate HSV within its purview. HHS will work with communities who are underserved and disproportionately affected to prevent HSV and improve access to care, while also advancing health equity and reducing stigma,” said Kaye Hayes, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Infectious Disease and the Director of the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy.

The development of the HSV Addendum was guided by principles focused on integrating the latest science; prioritizing federal actions; leveraging existing infrastructure, capacity, and resources; and coordinating action between national, state, territorial, tribal, and local community organizations and members.

Read the 2021–2023 STI Progress Report
Read the HSV Addendum
Read the STI Federal Implementation Plan
Read the STI National Strategic Plan