Private MD News

Officials see STD rates rise

Category: Sexually Transmitted Diseases

While public health officials have made some progress fighting the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases, experts say more STD testing is needed in certain areas, as rates for certain diseases continue to rise.

For example, officials from the Minnesota Department of Health recently reported a significant increase in the number of positive STD diagnoses, according to Minnesota Public Radio. A total of 19,547 cases were reported in 2011, compared to just 16,912 in 2009.

Officials told the news source that the majority of cases occurred in people between the ages of 15 and 24 living in the greater Minneapolis area. They recommended that all sexually active people - particularly those who fall into one of these categories - seek STD testing to ensure that they are not passing infections on to other people.

Nationally, more than half of all positive STD tests are given to teenagers and young adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Screening is critical among this high-risk group. Higher testing rates among these individuals may help public health officials make more progress fighting the spread of infections.