According to a recently released government report, rates of sexually transmitted diseases are continuing to rise. More specifically, the report notes combined cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and even a sharp rise in the number of babies born with syphilis.
The report states that approximately 2.5 million cases of these sexually transmitted diseases were reported to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over the past year. One of the center’s epidemiologist’s has been quoted as stating the following:
“We’re documenting an increase in STDs for the fifth consecutive year.”
Additionally, it was also noted that many sexually transmitted diseases do not have symptoms, meaning that they can unknowingly be transmitted to other individuals.
In terms of the rise in the number of babies being born with syphilis, this disease can be contracted by them if their mothers end up getting infected with the disease and do not seek out any treatment for it. Pregnant women must be screened for this type of infection as part of their very first prenatal care visit, as syphilis is able to be easily cured with simple antibiotics.
Cases of sexually transmitted diseases have also risen to a ten-year high in El Paso, Texas as well, as the El Paso Department of Public Health recently reported a total of 7,681 new cases of these diseases. This is an 11% increase from the previous year, as well as a 62% increase from 2007.
El Paso currently maintains a program designed for HIV prevention, as well as a program designed for medicine to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, and the city is hoping to use education to assist residents get more engaged in not just protecting their own health, but also protecting the health of the entire community as well.
