Record-High STD Rates in US: Where Does Connecticut Rank?

For 2015, Connecticut had one of the lowest rates of common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States, according to the state Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In its 2015 STD Surveillance Report, which examines reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis across the 50 states, the CDC says that in Connecticut there were 13,126 cases of chlamydia, 2,088 cases of gonorrhea and 92 cases of primary and secondary syphilis.

Those numbers represent a decrease in Connecticut compared to 2014 in cases of chlamydia (13,590 cases in 2014) and gonorrhea (2,390 cases in 2014), but an increase in new cases of infectious syphilis (84 cases) in Connecticut. While the CDC report ranks Connecticut in the top 10 of states with the lowest rates of these diseases, DPH Commissioner Dr. Raul Pino warned that STDs remain a significant health challenge in Connecticut.

“With approximately 20 million new sexually transmitted infections (including HIV) occurring every year nationally, half among our younger population, it is imperative to continue our efforts to increase STD screening and to identify and focus on at-risk populations,” said Commissioner Pino in a statement. “In addition to the health impacts on those infected with these preventable diseases, STDs inflict significant health care costs on individuals and the community at large. Last year alone, STDs nationally accounted for $16 billion in health care costs.”

On a national level, however, the rate of STD cases is increasing, particularly among teens and young adults, according to the CDC.

There are more than 1.5 million cases of chlamydia nationwide, as well as 400,000 cases of gonorrhea and almost 24,000 cases of the most infectious stages of syphilis, according to the new data. Teens and young adults ages 15 to 24 account for nearly two-thirds of diagnosed cases of chlamydia and half of gonorrhea cases.

Here are the state rankings for chlamydia cases and the rate of infection per 100,ooo people, according to the CDC. The national rate is 478.8.

1. Alaska, 768.3
2. Louisiana, 695.2
3. North Carolina, 647.4
4. New Mexico, 605.7
5. Mississippi, 580.2
6. Georgia, 570.8
7. South Carolina, 569.9
8. Arkansas, 545.0
9. Alabama, 543.6
10. Oklahoma, 542.2
11. Illinois, 540.4
12. New York, 524.7
13. Texas, 523.6
14. Hawaii, 498.3
15. Delaware, 492.2
16. Ohio, 489.3
17. California, 487.5
18. Arizona, 481.1
19. Tennessee, 477.5
20. Missouri, 477.4
21. Michigan, 469.1
22. South Dakota, 462.9
23. Maryland, 459.3
24. Nevada, 455.3
25. Florida, 454.8
26. Colorado, 445.4
27. Indiana, 437.9
28. Rhode Island, 433.6
29. North Dakota, 427.2
30. Virginia, 424.5
31. Wisconsin, 423.5
32. Nebraska, 422.9
33. Pennsylvania, 418.1
34. Oregon, 410.7
35. Montana, 408.8
36. Washington, 406.4
37. Kentucky, 395.2
38. Kansas, 394.8
39. Minnesota, 389.3
40. Iowa, 388.9
41. Connecticut, 364.9
42. Massachusetts, 357.3
43. New Jersey, 350.6
44. Wyoming, 348.7
45. Idaho, 344.5
46. Vermont, 303.4
47. Maine, 298.1
48. Utah, 293.3
49. West Virginia, 268.0
50. New Hampshire, 233.3

“It is important for people to know their risk and to get themselves tested,” said Dr. Lynn Sosa, Coordinator of the Sexually Transmitted Diseases Program at the Connecticut DPH, in a statement. “All three of these diseases can be asymptomatic but still be transmitted to others and cause long term health complications. Fortunately, these are all infections that can be treated when caught early.”

People are encouraged to take steps to protect themselves from contracting these diseases. If you are sexually active, the best way to protect yourself is by using condoms, either male or female condoms, correctly and consistently every time. Another way to protect yourself is for you and your partner to get tested at the beginning of a new relationship. It is recommended that all sexually active women under 25 be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea every year, even if there are no symptoms. Whether you are a man or a woman, if you have new or multiple sex partners, you should also be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea. If you are a man who has sex with other men, you should be tested for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV at least annually, regardless of symptoms.

Click here to view the CDC’s press release and full 2015 Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report.

Patch Editor Greg Hambrick contributed to this report.

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