Houston Health Department launches investigation after STD data goes viral on social media

HOUSTON – A social media post has many people questioning the health of many Houstonians after someone abused the Houston Health Department’s data system, insinuating that more than 42,000 people were tested positive for an STD.

The post showed a screenshot of a data sheet, stating: “This is the number of people diagnosed with STDs in Houston last week. Be careful on these streets.

The data sheet provided a summary of numbers associated with chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases and infections.

This has put many Houstonians on alert – especially after the Houston Health Department reported an outbreak of congenital syphilis in Houston and Harris County in the summer of 2023. HHD has seen an increase 128% of cases in women.

According to last year’s statistics, infections increased from 1,845 in 2019 to 2,905 in 2022, an increase of 57%. Cases among women totaled 674 cases in 2022, compared to 295 cases in 2019. Congenital syphilis increased from 16 cases in 2016 to 151 cases in 2021.

KPRC 2 reached out to the Houston Health Department regarding the recent statistics presented in the post. HHD responded by stating that its data system had been misused, violating its policies and procedures intended to protect public health.

Health officials confirmed the post was “grossly overstated numbers and incorrect information” and that those numbers represented lab tests conducted for the entire state, regardless of whether the test was positive or negative.

No personally identifiable information or protected health information has been disclosed. HHD has launched an investigation into this incident and implemented additional security measures to prevent future incidents to ensure the privacy and security of its customers’ information.

Read HHD’s full statement below:

“The Houston Health Department deeply regrets the misuse of a data system that violated its policies and procedures intended to protect public health. Although the intention was to communicate a public health message, the breach resulted in aggregate STD and HIV data being shared on social media. No protected health information or personally identifiable information has been disclosed.

“The message contains grossly exaggerated figures and incorrect information. The numbers represent laboratory tests reported for the entire state, whether the test was positive or negative. Statewide, approximately 1.2 million HIV tests and 1.6 million syphilis tests are performed each year.

“The department is conducting a thorough investigation and implementing additional safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.” He would like to take this opportunity to urge Houstonians to stay safe and continue to use best health practices. The department sincerely regrets any inconvenience this may have caused and is committed to ensuring the confidentiality and security of its customers’ information.