Record number of STDs reported in Minnesota
By The Associated Press

ST. PAUL — Sexually transmitted diseases including chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis climbed to a record high last year, the state Health Department reported on Monday.

The data show that 16,428 cases of sexually transmitted diseases were reported in 2006. Nearly 13,000 of those cases included people infected with chlamydia.
Nearly 70 percent of the chlamydia outbreaks were among teens and young adults. And almost one out of three chlamydia cases occurred in greater Minnesota.

Officials said there was a slight drop in gonorrhea cases last year, but the number still hovers around 3,300.

There were 104 cases of syphilis reported in 2006 — most in the Twin Cities area. Gay and bisexual men accounted for 80 of those cases, the department said.

Untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea can lead to infertility, while untreated syphilis can cause blindness, brain damage, heart problems and death.

The diseases often don’t have initial symptoms, but their spread can be prevented with the use of condoms.

“This represents an ongoing epidemic and trend in our state,” said Peter Carr, who monitors the spread of sexually transmitted diseases for the Health Department, in a prepared statement.

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