Public health flags STI/HIV disparities and funding cliff; harm reduction program reports 40% client increase and launches new overdose response tools

Santa Clara County public health staff presented the annual epidemiology report on sexually transmitted infections and HIV and followed with an update on the county’s harm reduction program, which administrators said has expanded services and demand.

Epidemiology highlights: staff reported that chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis rates rose through 2019, fell during the COVID‑19 period primarily because testing declined, then rose again in 2021–2022. Early 2023 data show a drop in rates that mirrors statewide and national trends. New HIV diagnosis rates have remained broadly stable; however, Hispanic/Latinx residents showed persistently higher case rates and case rates among Black/African American residents were disproportionately high (some data suppressed for privacy because of small counts).

Public health used the Healthy Places Index to map resources and infection rates and said higher STI and HIV case rates correlate with census…