Updated STD case numbers reported for Etowah County


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Burnestine Taylor, M.D.
(334) 206-5325
[email protected]

The Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Report 2016 has been released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The counts and rates for gonorrhea and chlamydia in Etowah County, AL are incorrect; the 2016 counts for these diseases in Etowah County were not higher in 2016 than they were in 2015.

It is believed that a problem occurred in the translation of State/County data from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) to the CDC. It is further believed that the implementation of a new Surveillance System, adopted by ADPH at the end of 2016, contributed to this situation. Currently, the STD Division and Information Technology continue to work to fully decipher this problem and make changes to minimize and hopefully eliminate similar outcomes in the future.

Based on a review of data by the STD Division of ADPH, the number of cases for Etowah County has declined from 2014 to 2016 for both chlamydia and gonorrhea. The number of cases reported can vary based on the date data is pulled. The case numbers for Etowah County are provided below:

2014

2015

2016

Chlamydia

654

533

524

Gonorrhea

182

205

135

For additional information on ADPH STD statistics please go to alabamapublichealth.gov/std/assets/County2015.pdf.