See How Rising STD Rates Have Affected Colorado

BOULDER, CO -- A new analysis of CDC data shows which states are most affected by the rising rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.

The CDC’s latest report released on the topic found that nearly 2.3 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were diagnosed in the U.S. in 2017, which marked the fourth consecutive year of sharp increases in the three sexually transmitted diseases, according to the report.

The analysis by Health Testing Centers notes that when the CDC began collecting STD data in 1941, there were only 679,028 cases of syphilis and gonorrhea. Today, that figure includes cases of chlamydia, which had the most dramatic increase since the 1980s, the analysis says.

Here’s a look at how chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis have affected Colorado:

Chlamydia

Colorado ranks 28th for the rate of chlamydia cases in 2017.

According to the analysis, there were 26,995 chlamydia cases in Colorado in 2017, with a rate of 487.2 cases per 100,000 residents.

Gonorrhea

Colorado ranks 27th for the rate of gonorrhea cases in 2017.

According to the analysis, there were 8,478 gonorrhea cases in Colorado in 2017, with a rate of 153 cases per 100,000 residents.

Syphilis

Colorado ranks 33rd for the rate of syphilis cases in 2017.

According to the analysis, there were syphilis cases in 292 in 2017, with a rate of 5.3 cases per 100,000 residents.

Below are the states most affected by each STD:

Chlamydia

1. Alaska
2. Louisiana
3. Mississippi
4. New Mexico
5. South Carolina

Gonorrhea

1. Mississippi
2. Alaska
3. Louisiana
4. South Carolina
5. Alabama

Syphilis

1. Louisiana
2. Nevada
3. California
4. New York
5. Texas

The CDC said of the 2017 figures that the country was sliding backwards after decades of declining STDs and warned of the ongoing threat that gonorrhea will become resistant to the last antibiotic that can cure it.

Read more via the Health Testing Centers here.

This report was written by Patch national staffer Feroze Dhanoa

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