Private MD News

Local health departments urge STD testing

Category: Chlamydia

As cases of sexually transmitted disease infection continue to rise in many parts of the country, local health officials are urging people to seek STD testing in the hopes that it might help curb the epidemic spread of infections.

Health officials in Virginia and Tennessee learned from a recent study that rates of Chlamydia and gonorrhea infection are rising at rapid rates, prompting them to push for more testing among local residents, according to the Kingsport Times-News.

"Many of us incorrectly assume these are big-city problems, unique to places like Nashville and Richmond," Lenowisco Health District director Sue Cantrell told the news source. "While the local rates of these infections remain lower than state or national figures, the rates of increase are higher, raising concern."

Rates continue to rise nationally, as well. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that nearly 3 million people in the United States are infected with Chlamydia.

The organization also recommends STD testing as one of the most effective measures for stopping the spread of infections.