PERHAPS THE “PUBLIC HEALTH” PEOPLE SHOULD FOCUS ON ACTUAL DISEASES INSTEAD OF TRENDY POLITICAL CAUSES: ‘Ongoing, severe epidemic’ of STDs in US, report finds. “. In 2008, there were 20 million new incidents of infection in the United States, and a prevalence (new infections plus ongoing infection) of 110 million, according to CDC estimates. (Because one person may have more than one infection, the 110 million figure does not mean 110 million people have a sexually transmitted disease.) As a result, the United States incurred estimated direct medical costs of nearly $16 billion. Previous such estimates, for years 1996 and 2000, estimated approximately 15 million and 18.9 million new incidents respectively, though these reports used somewhat different data sources and methodology so the CDC cautions against making direct comparisons.”