Louisiana Faces Alarming STD Crisis: Rates Among Highest In The Nation

SHREVEPORT, LA – As we move into the new year, we have bad news to report on the health of residents in Louisiana. STD (sexually transmitted disease) rates in the Bayou State are near the top in almost every category.

The Centers for Disease Control tracks STDs across the nation and Louisiana is in the top 5 in 3 out of 4 categories. We are also #11 in that 4^th category.

States with Highest Rate of Chlamydia

Alaska

Mississippi

Louisiana

South Carolina

Georgia

Louisiana has more than 33,000 cases of chlamydia.

States with Highest Rate of Gonorrhea

Mississippi

South Dakota

Louisiana

Alabama

South Carolina

Louisiana has more than 16,000 cases of gonorrhea.

States with Highest Rate of Primary and Secondary Syphilis

South Dakota

New Mexico

Arkansas

Oklahoma

Nevada

Louisiana ranks #11

States with Highest Rate of Congenital Syphilis

Arizona

New Mexico

Louisiana

Mississippi

Texas

Louisiana had 110 cases in newborn babies.

The CDC warns residents are warned that many STDs often do not show symptoms, and screening is essential to get to a timely diagnosis and treatment.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, visits for preventative care dropped and this could be related to a spike in some of these cases. The World Health Organization says there has been “a resurgence of STIs and the emergence of non-classical STIs globally. “

The report says the United States and Canada have reported an increase in at least 3 STIs: syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.

This WHO report says:

Key shifts are required to end STIs as a public health concern by 2030. New models of STIs services need to be resilient and adaptive to current and future threats.

The WHO is also calling for increased funding for STI services including prevention, testing and treatment.