Mobile, Alabama's Rates of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea on the Rise

Health officials say they don't know why STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea continue to plague Mobile, Ala., while syphilis rates are dropping. "We see fluctuations periodically. I challenge anybody to say why," said Michael O'Cain, director of the STD program at the state Department of Public Health.

The number of reported cases of chlamydia topped 1,700 in Mobile County during the last four years -- a 45 percent increase over 1998 figures. Gonorrhea has been reported in 1,600 people in Mobile County this year, according to the CDC. It is the second most prevalent STD. Meanwhile, syphilis was only reported in about three dozen people in Mobile County so far this year.

"My personal assessment: the current pool of people infected with syphilis is smaller than the other STDs, thus, not as many exposures and therefore, less subsequent cases," said Dr. Keith Ramsey, head of the infectious disease department at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. The CDC in 1999 launched a nationwide education campaign to eliminate syphilis. Health officials say the best way to avoid STDs is to use condoms or abstain from sex altogether.

Back to other CDC news for December 26, 2001

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