Private MD News

Mississippi officials worried about rise in STDs

Category: Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Mississippi public health officials, concerned about the rise in sexually transmitted diseases in the state, are meeting with school leaders to push for more education about abstinence and safer sex practices.

"It's not that we have particularly significant increases in sexually transmitted diseases. We have an overall problem in the cause, which is rampant irresponsible sexual behavior," Craig Thompson, director of the Department of Health's STD/HIV office told the Fort Mill Times. "All the data shows that. People aren't paying enough attention to condom use."

The latest statistics from the state's Department of Health show a sharp increase in the cases of both chlamydia and syphilis this year.
At the end of April, there had been 181 syphilis cases in 2009, up from 82 cases the year before. Chlamydia cases had gone up to 8,221, compared to 6,026 at this time last year. Cases of HIV and gonorrhea also are up slightly.

Thompson said health officials have begun planning for a statewide conference to discuss STDs and raise awareness about the problem.
The state wants to encourage people to get tested for STDs and to contact their partners if they test positive.