A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that cases of chlamydia are up 7% since 2006. Overall, infections rates for women are three times higher than for men, with 543.6 cases per 100,000 females and 190 cases per 100,000 males. Racial disparities also continue to exist, with African Americans eight times more like to have chlamydia than whites. Black women age 15 to 19 have the highest rates (9,647 per 100,000 population).

As Dr. John M. Douglas Jr., the Director of the CDC's Division of STD Prevention, notes, “Chlamydia is at a new all-time record of 1.1 million cases.” He adds that while this is an unacceptably high level, the increase is the result of more people being screened, not a greater incidence of the disease. “It's kind of a mixed piece of good news.” He notes, however, that only half of all new cases of chlamydia are estimated to be reported, making the incidence of the disease much higher. “We think there are really 2 to 2.5 million cases of chlamydia each year,” says Dr. Douglas.

Despite syphilis having been nearly eliminated 10 years ago, the CDC report also states that rates for this STD are on the rise, predominately among women and babies. The number of cases began increasing in 2001 and skyrocketed 15.2% from 2006 to 2007. Gonorrhea rates remain high, but unchanged for the past decade.

News Release: U.S. chlamydia infections hit all-time high. www.godlike productions.com January 14, 2009.