County no longer No. 1 in venereal disease
Monday, November 17, 2008 1:17 PM PST
By Barbara LaBoe
Printable version
E-mail this articleThe news just keeps getting better for Cowlitz County’s STD rates, though officials caution there’s still work to be done.
Last week officials said the number of gonorrhea cases had dropped dramatically — 67 percent from a year ago. Now, with more state figures in, officials say it’s clear the county no longer will have the state’s highest gonorrhea rate, a dubious status it’s had for three years.
In fact, health officials project the county it will drop to the fourth place, as measured by the number of gonorrhea cases per capita. Pierce, King and Spokane counties likely will have higher rates than Cowlitz County, said Dr. Megan Guffey of the county health department.
The numbers are still projections because the year isn’t over and more cases will be reported in all the counties. Still, it’s encouraging news to health officials after three years of dramatic increases in both gonorrhea and chlamydia rates.
Last year’s county rate of 131 cases per 100,000 people was dramatically higher than the state average of 56 cases per 100,000.
"It’s good news," County Commissioner George Raiter said Friday of this year’s decreasing rates. "And I think it’s a direct result of the work the health department has done, both on the education effort with the general population and work in the jail with a high-risk population and just putting this on the front burner."
Health officials screen and treat any jail inmates who request treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. The trips were started after interviews determined many residents with infections either had been in jail recently or had sex with someone who had.
Testing also is available at the health department from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays on a drop-in basis or Thursdays by appointment. Your regular doctor also can test for STDs. Health officials say anyone who has had unprotected sex should be tested because both gonorrhea and chlamydia frequently have no symptoms.
Officials say it’s possible that some of the drop in cases may be due to fewer people getting tested instead of fewer infections. Predicting STD rates is always a moving target, Guffey said.
"We still believe there’s certainly a lot of work to do, but we’re very encouraged by the trend and reduction of the numbers," she said. "(Dropping to fourth place) certainly would be tremendous progress."
Raiter agreed.
"That’s one number one we don’t want," he said.
Related articles:
County sees sharp decline in gonorrhea cases (Nov. 12)
Health department turns to MySpace to promote STD education (Jan. 14)
the Grateful Dad wrote on Nov 17, 2008 7:31 AM:
Sub-head reads: "Middle School Students Reason For Major Sales Boost".
This is so pathetic, no matter how you view it. "
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