Harris County Faces Exploding HIV and STI Rates

Recent data from Harris County Public Health reveal a sharp rise in HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the Houston area. According to health officials, Houston's STI rates now exceed statewide Texas averages. Hotspots include Downtown, Montrose and nearby neighborhoods (often linked to nightlife and transactional sex) where infection spikes are highest. Legacy Community Health director Jill Jahns warns, "HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, all of them… Harris County and Houston, in particular, have been surpassing the rates of STIs in Texas." Alarming trends affect everyone, but one group is hit especially hard – Black heterosexual women. In Houston's study, Black women were "frequently getting STIs at a higher rate than other groups." This local crisis demands urgent attention.

Texas and U.S. Trends: The Big Picture

Texas-wide data mirror the local surge. For example, chlamydia cases in Texas climbed from roughly 141,700 in 2016 to 156,131 in 2022. Gonorrhea jumped from about 42,275 in 2016 to 62,174 in 2022. Syphilis has skyrocketed – Texas reported only 9,632 cases in 2016 versus 25,991 in 2022. HIV diagnoses in Texas have stayed high as well (around 4,500 new cases per year before 2020, dipping to ~3,600 in 2020 and back to ~4,300 in 2021).

Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) counted over 38,000 new HIV diagnoses in 2022. The CDC also reports that in 2022 there were roughly 1.6 million chlamydia cases, 648,056 gonorrhea cases, and 207,255 syphilis cases in the U.S. All these numbers have been climbing in recent years, signaling an epidemic of STIs across Texas and the country.

Summary of Trends:

• Chlamydia (Texas): ~141,700 cases in 2016 → 156,131 in 2022
• Gonorrhea (Texas): 42,275 cases in 2016 → 62,174 in 2022
• Syphilis (Texas): 9,632 in 2016 → 25,991 in 2022
• HIV (Texas): ~4,575 new diagnoses in 2016; ~4,300–4,400/year by 2021
• U.S. totals (2022): ~1.6 million chlamydia; 648,056 gonorrhea; 207,255 syphilis; >38,000 HIV diagnoses

These trends set the context for Harris County's crisis. The explosive growth in syphilis and gonorrhea – infections once under better control – is especially worrying and underscores an urgent public health emergency.

How HIV and STIs Spread

Understanding how HIV and other STIs transmit is key. The CDC notes that HIV spreads primarily through unprotected sexual contact (semen, vaginal and rectal fluids) and sharing needles for drugs. Syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia are bacterial infections spread by similar routes. Common risk factors include:

• Unprotected sex: Having vaginal, anal or oral sex without condoms or PrEP dramatically raises risk. (Condoms are highly effective in preventing HIV and many STIs.)
• Needle-sharing: Injection drug use (sharing syringes) is a well-known cause of HIV spread and also can transmit other blood-borne infections like hepatitis.
• High-risk settings: Crowded nightclubs, bars, parties or areas known for transactional sex (exchanging sex for money or drugs) can foster situations where substance use impairs judgment and condoms are not used. In Houston, the worst STI outbreaks are in nightlife districts like Downtown and Montrose.
• Community disparities: Social and economic factors matter. Populations with limited healthcare access – often racial/ethnic minorities or disadvantaged neighborhoods – experience higher infection rates. Public health research in Houston found that distressed areas (poor, unsafe, with limited recreational resources) had teens with many partners and higher STI rates. Limited testing and prevention resources in these communities allow the epidemic to grow unchecked.

Disproportionate Impact on Black Heterosexual Women

A particularly alarming finding is that Black women are bearing the brunt of this epidemic. Legacy Health's Jill Jahns noted that "Black women who are heterosexual are frequently getting STIs at a higher rate than other groups". This aligns with state data: in Texas, Black women account for 56% of women living with HIV despite being only 12% of the female population. (In fact, the rate of Black women living with HIV in Texas is over 7 times higher than Hispanic women and 14 times higher than White women.)

The Harris County study similarly found that Black and multiracial communities have the highest HIV rates overall, and that the Black community is "most impacted" by chlamydia infections. These statistics reflect longstanding disparities: factors like lack of access to healthcare, higher poverty, and social stigma mean HIV/STIs hit Black women harder. The current surge makes these inequities even more dangerous, threatening a generation of women of color.

The bottom line is that nobody is immune – but some people are at much higher risk. A pregnant teenager, a nightclub-goer, or anyone with a new sex partner could be infected and unwittingly pass it on. This situation is urgent: if testing and prevention don't ramp up now, infections will continue rising.

Taking Action: Protect Yourself and Get Tested

There is powerful urgency in these numbers. With STI rates skyrocketing, every Texan must act to protect themselves and others. Here's what you can do:

• Use protection: Condoms (male or female) and dental dams work – use them every time you have sex. Condoms are nearly 100% effective against HIV and very good against other STIs. Reducing number of sexual partners and avoiding anonymous hookups lowers risk. If you are at ongoing risk for HIV (e.g. partner with HIV or high-risk community), ask a doctor about PrEP – medication that prevents HIV before exposure.
• Avoid needle-sharing: If you use drugs, never share or reuse syringes. Syringe-exchange programs and addiction treatment can help keep you safe.
• Get educated: Learn about the STIs common in your community. Many Texas cities offer free or low-cost sexual health education through clinics and community groups. Open conversation with partners about STIs and testing history is key.
• Be alert for symptoms: Symptoms can include unusual discharge, sores, burning with urination, or skin rashes. But remember: most infections are silent. Jahns emphasized that even young people and those feeling healthy can spread disease, especially in communities with many partners.
• Support community prevention: Spread the word. Encourage friends and family — especially young adults and minority women — to get tested and practice safe sex. Advocate for local HIV/STI resources and funding in schools and neighborhoods.

Above all, get tested regularly. Testing is the only way to know. As CDC experts note, "Treatment is prevention" – the sooner an infection is diagnosed and treated, the faster its spread can be stopped. Rapid tests and treatments (often a simple antibiotic for bacterial STIs or antiviral therapy for HIV) mean infections can be cured or managed if caught early. Thanks to medical advances, an HIV diagnosis is no longer a death sentence – but only if it's found early and medication is started.

Don't wait – get tested today. Testing is confidential and often free or low-cost, and results can be anonymous. Visit a health clinic or outreach event, or use at-home testing kits if needed. To find a convenient testing location near you, search online for resources like STD testing near me. Don't gamble with your health: regular STI screenings save lives and stop this epidemic. By acting now, we can protect ourselves and our communities from this silent and growing threat.