State health department officials are urging sexually active Michiganders to get tested regularly for a wide variety of sexually transmitted diseases.
Michigan, like the nation as a whole, has seen an increase in chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis cases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says combined cases of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia reached an all-time high in the United States in 2018.
According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, cases of gonorrhea dropped nearly by half from 2008 to 2014, but increased by 70% since, including a 10% jump in 2018. MDHHS says syphilis had been declining since a 2013 outbreak, the number of cases jumped by 36% last year. The number of chlamydia cases rose in Michigan in 2018 by 1%.
The sharpest increases have been among adolescents, African-Americans, and homosexual men.
“Many infected people are unaware of their status which allows them to unknowingly pass it to their partners,” says Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy for health.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says screening and prompt treatment are critical to protect an individual’s health and prevent further transmission.
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