By Lauren Pratt |Staff Writer|
New data from the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention show that rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis have reached an all-time high in California.
A report released from the CDC shows that rates of the three diseases have steadily increased since 2010. However, in 2014, the rates surged.
The report said it was an “alarming epidemic.”
In 2014, there were 456 cases of chlamydia in the U.S. per 100,000 people with 460 cases in California. Gonorrhea showed 111 cases per 100,000, with 119 in California , and syphilis showed six cases per 100,000 with 10 cases in the state, according to California Department of Public Health on Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
According to the study, California had the twenty second highest rate in gonorrhea and fourth highest of syphilis.
A study by Stanford University Sexual Health Peer Resource Center reported one in four college students have an STD.
Therefore, young people are greatly at risk for STD, with more than half of chlamydia and gonorrhea cases occurring in people between the ages 15 to 24.
“The only way to reduce your risk of STD’s, is practicing safer sex (using condoms and dental dams every time), as well as getting tested regularly and being aware of your partners sexual, history and STD status,” according to Michael Krychman, M.D., at Kaiser Permanente.
Student James K. Dolton does not approve of the recent message California is transmitting. “As young adults we have to know or learn how to take care of our bodies. It’s a full time job and deserves protection.”
Leave a Reply