With STD Rates Rising, CT Begins Awareness Campaign

HARTFORD, CT — The Connecticut Department of Public Health is beginning a new video campaign intended to curb an increase in sexually transmitted diseases. The campaign is in response to rising rates for diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis both in the state and nationwide.

DPH is dubbing the campaign #LeaveItToUs, advocating for use of the department's confidential notification service for informing people who might have been exposed to an STD.

"We understand that having an STD can be scary," said STD Control Program Coordinator, Dr. Lynn Sosa. "The message of the #LeaveItToUs campaign is simple: our staff is here to help make sure people are treated and assist in the process of telling their partners they should be tested too."

Two campaign videos are available in English and Spanish and will be promoted at partnering healthcare facilities and clinics.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, there are 1.7 million cases of chlamydia, a 22 percent increase since 2013; 555,608 cases of gonorrhea, a 67 percent increase since 2013; and 30,644 cases of primary and secondary syphilis, a 76 percent increase since 2013.

By law, healthcare providers must notify state DPH of specific STDs including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV.

According to DPH, when the STD Control Program is notified of an STD, specially trained staff called Disease Intervention Specialists reach out confidentially to the infected person and talk to them about their potential partners who have been exposed and maybe infected.