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- Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis Rates Up
Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis Rates Up
- By Surfing the Current
- Published 03/24/2008
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source: Reuters, November 13
The rates of the three leading sexually transmitted diseases rose again in the United States last year, worried public health officials said. About 19 million new infections occur each year, with almost half among people aged 15 to 24. “This is a hidden epidemic,” said one official for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Most people are not aware of how many STDs are out there, the risks that they run, and the need for getting regular testing for some of these and treatment—and having their partners treated.”
It was the second year in a row of increases for all three of these sexually transmitted bacterial infections. The rate of Chlamydia, the most common infectious disease reported to the CDC, increased 5.6 percent in 2006 from 2005. More than 1.03 million Chlamydia cases were reported in 2006—the highest number since the CDC began tracking it in 1984, and the highest number of annual U.S. cases ever for any sexually transmitted disease. The CDC said the national rate of reported Chlamydia cases in 2006 was 347.8 cases per 100,000 Americans.
The rate has been rising since the 1980s but likely reflects less than half the actual occurrence, the CDC said. The rate of gonorrhea rose 5.5 percent in 2006, with 358,366 cases reported. In 2006, the gonorrhea rate was 120.9 cases per 100,000 people. The rate of syphilis rose 13.8 percent in 2006 over 2005, with 9,756 cases. Syphilis rates have been rising over the past six years, gaining 57 percent since 2001, the CDC said. The 2006 syphilis rate was 3.3 cases per 100,000 people.
It was the second year in a row of increases for all three of these sexually transmitted bacterial infections. The rate of Chlamydia, the most common infectious disease reported to the CDC, increased 5.6 percent in 2006 from 2005. More than 1.03 million Chlamydia cases were reported in 2006—the highest number since the CDC began tracking it in 1984, and the highest number of annual U.S. cases ever for any sexually transmitted disease. The CDC said the national rate of reported Chlamydia cases in 2006 was 347.8 cases per 100,000 Americans.
The rate has been rising since the 1980s but likely reflects less than half the actual occurrence, the CDC said. The rate of gonorrhea rose 5.5 percent in 2006, with 358,366 cases reported. In 2006, the gonorrhea rate was 120.9 cases per 100,000 people. The rate of syphilis rose 13.8 percent in 2006 over 2005, with 9,756 cases. Syphilis rates have been rising over the past six years, gaining 57 percent since 2001, the CDC said. The 2006 syphilis rate was 3.3 cases per 100,000 people.
