Rates of chlamydia, syphilis on the rise in U.S.

Los Angeles Times ^ | January 14, 2009 | Mary Engel

[Zakeet]

Chlamydia infections now top 1.1 million, more than ever recorded. Syphilis cases are up for the 7th year in a row. And gonorrhea is not declining as hoped.

Rates of the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia are climbing in the U.S., and rates of syphilis -- once on the verge of elimination -- rose for the seventh consecutive year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday in its annual report on STDs.

Gonorrhea rates did not increase, but they ceased falling a few years ago, frustrating goals set by public health leaders.

Chlamydia infections in the United States now top 1.1 million, the most since record-keeping for the disease began and the most for any STD that doctors are required to report, according to 2007 data, the latest available.

Cases of gonorrhea, which peaked in the 1970s at about 1 million and then dropped for years, remain flat at 355,991, according to the CDC report. The disease is the second-most common STD for which data are collected by law.

Women bear the brunt of both chlamydia and gonorrhea, especially their long-term consequences, CDC officials said.

[Snip]

As in previous years, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis continued to disproportionately affect African Americans and, to a lesser extent, Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Latinos.

Public health officials attribute the disparities to socioeconomic and cultural factors, including lower access to regular healthcare and distrust of the healthcare system.

Los Angeles County launched a series of public health campaigns in mid-2007 that target young African American women and Latinas as well as gay and bisexual men. The Los Angeles area had the most cases of chlamydia of any metropolitan area in the country -- 440,030 in 2007 -- and the second-highest number of gonorrhea and syphilis cases.

[Zakeet]

According to the article: Blacks, Latinos, prostitutes and homosexuals have more sexually transmitted diseases because of disparities in socioeconomic and cultural factors, including lower access to regular healthcare and distrust of the healthcare system.

According to Barry: This will all go away after we enact a program of socialized medicine through nationalized healthcare.

[Tennessee Nana]

So personal behavior had nothing to do with it ???

[G.Mason]

So we are not equal afterall?

If you don't mind, I will contiue to profile.

[DungeonMaster]

As in previous years, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis continued to disproportionately affect African Americans and, to a lesser extent, Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Latinos.

Why?

[Mrs. Don-o]

Newsflash: this does not come from "sex." If a virgin gets together with a virgin, and the two of them keep getting together only with each other, they'll both have a pret-near 0% risk of a sexually transmitted disease.

But everybody knows that.

[Cyber Ninja]

I’m confused about the numbers. I thought I saw an article that said 1 in 4 of girls 14-20 had an STD. That depressed me, but this article is stating numbers like 2-3 million cases of STD’s total. Something just doesn’t add up.

[Tanniker Smith]

Glad we’re giving out those condoms in school. They really seem to have done the trick. (And it’s a good thing that kids don’t have sex in the summer when the condoms aren’t availble.)

[Cyber Ninja]

or are they just reporting new cases....gastly.

[Global2010]

Prostitutes are exempt from the abstinance rule in accordance with their work requirements.

/sarc

[Global2010]

So the whole toilet seat thingy is a lie!

/sarc

[Angry_White_Man_Syndrome]

Wow! 440,300 out of 1,100,000 or 40% cases are in Los Angles. Wonder how many of these cases are from illegeals? At least the health officials know where to focus thier efforts.

[stevecmd]

and distrust of the healthcare system.

WTF !!! Maybe they should distrust their own free will decision making.

[Oldpuppymax]

And thanks to homosexuals and illegal aliens, TB- which was virtually unheard of for decades- has made a comeback. But of course, no one is supposed to know/discuss that. Terribly un-PC don’t you know.

[jalisco555]

I’m confused about the numbers. I thought I saw an article that said 1 in 4 of girls 14-20 had an STD. That depressed me, but this article is stating numbers like 2-3 million cases of STD’s total. Something just doesn’t add up.

By far the most common STD is Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which causes cervical cancer as well as genital warts. Not sure about the 14-20 age group but between ages 20-25 around 25% of women will test positive at any given time, although in most cases the virus is cleared spontaneously. Approx. 80% of all American women will be infected at one point in their lives, usually before age 30.

[Global2010]

Ah never thought of the summer break no condom/birthcontrol aspect.

In our little corner of the world the whole public school idea of free condoms/sexual health program has arrived but is still in the talks.

Other than what the segment of our local population agrees and disagrees with on having such a program you make a very valid point.

[FreedomFerret]

Nuke it from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.

[Global2010]

I was wondering how many cases are repetative.

Another thing if STDeez are so high umongst the groups they mentioned how would they know if as reported these groups do not get sexual healthcare?

[stan_sipple]

something for Lou dobbs show

[Uri’el-2012]

So personal behavior had nothing to do with it ???

Maybe it exposes a sub-culture of rampant promiscuity.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai

[mrs tiggywinkle]

**So personal behavior had nothing to do with it ???**

Apparently not :o/