According to recent statistics from health organizations in the United States, there has been a disturbing increase in the number of people who test positive for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in several U.S. Cities. These cities have become hotspots for STI cases, with the highest rate of incidences per capita in the United States. Here are the top 10 U.S. cities with the highest STD cases as of 2022:
1. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: The 2019 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) shows that Baton Rouge has the highest rate of STD cases in the country, being 2099 of every 100,000 residents.
2. Alexandria, Virginia: In the same data collected by the CDC, Alexandria has an STI rate of 1,083 per 100,000 residents.
3. New Orleans, Louisiana: New Orleans’ STD rate continues to climb according to the CDC’s data, with over 11,000 cases reported in 2019. That’s a rate of 293 cases per 100,000 residents.
4. Anchorage, Alaska: According to the 2019 data obtained from the CDC, Anchorage had an STI rate of 945 cases per 100,000 residents.
In 2018, Alaska had the highest rate of chlamydia in the country, and the second-highest rate of gonorrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent STD surveillance report (https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats18/2018-Surveillance-Report-EMBARGOED-FINAL-State-Ranking-Tables.pdf)
5. Wilmington, Delaware: According to the Delaware Division of Public Health data from 2020, Wilmington city had an STI rate of 865 per 100,000 residents.
6. Jackson, Mississippi: The Mississippi Department of Health reported that Jackson continues to have high rates of STDs with a rate of 702 cases per 100,000 residents.
7. Montgomery, Alabama: Montgomery has an STI rate of 656 per 100,000 residents according to the data obtained from the 2020 Annual Council of Health Boards.
8. Augusta, Georgia: As per the 2019 data of the CDC, Augusta had an STI rate of 645 per 100,000 residents.
9. Columbia, South Carolina: The 2019 data collected by the Health Department of South Caroline shows an STI rate of 634 per 100,000.
10. Atlanta, Georgia: In the same data collected in 2019, Atlanta experienced a shocking increase in STI cases, with a rate of 613 of every 100,000 residents.
Living in a city with high STD rates can have significant physical and mental health consequences. Individuals and especially college students need to be proactive in practicing safe sex. Using barrier protection such as condoms, knowing their sexual partners’ histories, getting tested regularly, abstaining from sexual activity, and reducing the number of sexual partners are just a few of the many measures that can minimize the risks of contracting STDs.
To conclude, the recent increase in STD cases in several U.S. cities calls for more public education and awareness about the dangers of unprotected sex. Residents of these cities can help by seeking medical attention and adopting preventive behaviors such as getting regular checkups, using barrier contraceptives, and reducing sexual activity and multiple partners. With appropriate measures in place, there are always ways to mitigate the risks and minimize the spread of STDs in these cities.
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