Prince George's County Residents, Get Tested!

County among top jurisdictions nationwide in STDs

Prince George's County has received the dubious distinction of being one of the nation's top jurisdictions for gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia, the Gazette reported.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report ranked Prince George's 30th for syphilis, 43rd for chlamydia and 55th for gonorrhea. A total of 6,350 cases of the three sexually transmitted diseases were reported by health care providers in 2007.

Prince George's County health officers Donald Shell urged sexually active county residents to get tested, the Gazette reported.

University of Maryland professor Dr. Robin Sawyer attributed the high rates in part to lack of health care in the county, the Gazette reported.

Nationwide, cases of venereal disease are on the rise, even syphilis, which once was close to eradication.

The three diseases are treatable with antibiotics but can cause blindness, heart trouble and reproductive problems if untreated, and symptoms don't always show.

Contact Us