Sexual Health STIs Diagnosis STIs That Are Nationally Notifiable Diseases By Elizabeth Boskey, PhD Elizabeth Boskey, PhD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Elizabeth Boskey, PhD, MPH, CHES, is a social worker, adjunct lecturer, and expert writer in the field of sexually transmitted diseases. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 27, 2021 Medically reviewed by Anju Goel, MD, MPH Medically reviewed by Anju Goel, MD, MPH LinkedIn Anju Goel, MD, MPH, is a board-certified physician who specializes in public health, communicable disease, diabetes, and health policy. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Nationally notifiable diseases are diseases that healthcare providers are required to report to their local health department. This information is then disclosed to the state health department, which notifies the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some nationally notifiable diseases, like chickenpox and lead poisoning, are not sexually transmitted. Others, like chlamydia and syphilis, are. Reporting these diseases to the government allows for their incidence to be monitored and tracked. This information is important, as accurate and efficient reporting can help identify outbreaks, as well as help guide decisions and resource allocations that can help protect citizens as early as possible. This process is designed to balance privacy and public health. SelectStock / Getty Images STIs on the Nationally Notifiable Diseases Reporting List There are several sexually transmitted infections (STIs) on the nationally notifiable diseases reporting list. As of 2021, the reportable STIs are: Chlamydia: Confirmed cases Chancroid: Confirmed and probable cases Gonorrhea: Confirmed and probable cases Hepatitis B: Confirmed acute cases; both confirmed and probable chronic cases HIV: Confirmed cases and possible perinatal exposures Syphilis: Confirmed and probable cases STIs are not nationally notifiable diseases because the government wants to invade your privacy. They're nationally notifiable diseases because the government has a vested interest in protecting the public health. It is possible to reduce the spread of STIs through regular screening, prompt treatment, and efficient contact tracing. Being aware of any concentrated epidemics or new outbreaks allows the government to intervene with prevention and/or treatment measures most efficiently. For example, it was at least in part due to national disease reporting systems that scientists became aware of the HIV epidemic among heterosexual, African American residents of Washington DC. In the first decade of the 2000s, the population of the nation's capital had HIV levels similar to those seen in Sub-Saharan Africa. This realization led to a number of targeted interventions designed at improving prevention, testing, and treatment in the District. The Best At-Home STI Tests 2 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2021 national notifiable conditions. Greenberg AE, Hader SL, Masur H, Young AT, Skillicorn J, Dieffenbach CW. Fighting HIV/AIDS in Washington, D.C. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009;28(6):1677-1687. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.28.6.1677 By Elizabeth Boskey, PhD Elizabeth Boskey, PhD, MPH, CHES, is a social worker, adjunct lecturer, and expert writer in the field of sexually transmitted diseases. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit