Big Increase in Gonorrhea in Seattle-Everett Area

Health officials say that gonorrhea is a growing problem in King and Snohomish counties, exceeding the rate of increase for the state of Washington and the nation. Doctors and clinics are being asked to watch for symptoms, especially in sexually active young adults, as trends indicate that cases in King County will increase by more than 60 percent compared with 1999. The increase has been chiefly among heterosexual men in their late 20s to early 30s and in women in their 20s, and cases in Snohomish County extend to women in their late teens. Black residents in the area have been especially hard-hit. "This is the highest rate in seven or eight years," said Dr. Hunter Handsfield, Seattle-King County director of STD control. "We're certainly trying to find out what's going on, why it's happening." Potential causes for the increase include a new and more readily transmitted form of the disease and drug use associated with sexual activity or prostitution, Handsfield added.

This year alone, as many as 1,700 cases are expected in King County, which is a rate of 90 to 100 per 100,000 residents. As of early this month, Snohomish County had 96 cases since Jan. 1, compared with only 36 over the same period a year earlier. For the state, the increase has been 29 percent, mostly attributed to the much higher increase in the two counties. A smaller increase has been reported nationally by the CDC.

To combat the rising rates of gonorrhea, the Snohomish Health District is planning an educational campaign in schools, community groups and bars, health officer Dr. M. Ward Hinds said. "Anyone who's been involved in a sexual relationship where they can't be absolutely sure it's mutually monogamous is at risk," Hinds said.

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