Gonorrhea incidence at 18-year record

EVERETT – The number of diagnosed gonorrhea cases in Snohomish County hit an 18-year high last year, the third straight year of increases.

In 2006, the number of cases increased 31 percent over the previous year, with 320 cases of the sexually transmitted disease reported. This compares with 244 cases in 2005.

“Almost certainly, this reflects increases in unprotected sex,” said Dr. Gary Goldbaum, health officer for the Snohomish Health District.

The disease can cause infertility and in some cases lead to death, Goldbaum said. However, gonorrhea can be cured with antibiotics, he said.

Although health investigators have a hunch that part of the increase could be caused by strains of the disease that are more easily transmitted, there’s no proof at this time, he said.

What is known is that the increase in Snohomish County cases mirrors a surge in gonorrhea cases in the Puget Sound region and statewide.

In King County, the number of cases has increased for the past three years, rising from 1,261 in 2004 to 1,936 last year.

Statewide, 4,234 cases were diagnosed last year, Goldbaum said, compared with 3,739 in 2005.

No figures were immediately available from the Snohomish Health District on which population groups are most affected by the disease.

In the next month or so, “we’ll have a better idea about which groups might be at greatest risk,” Goldbaum said.

However, statewide data show it’s largely a problem for young women between the ages of 15 and 25. Men between 20 to 30 years of age also are at greatest risk.

The increase in gonorrhea doesn’t signal an overall increase in the number of reported cases of sexually transmitted diseases in Snohomish County, he said.

For example, the number of diagnosed cases of chlamydia was 1,502 in 2006, a decrease from the 1,553 diagnosed the previous year.

“People still need to be concerned about having unprotected sex,” Goldbaum said. They need to know their partners … and get cared for if they have symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection.”

Health officials think that more people are having unprotected sex, or not using condoms, in part because “in the public’s minds, HIV has gone away,” Goldbaum said.

“Twenty years ago, people were very frightened of HIV,” he said. “There was a tremendous reduction in sexually transmitted diseases.

“It didn’t matter who you were, gay men or heterosexual couples, people really were quite frightened,” he said. “I think that fear is gone.”

Get yourself tested

If you have questions about sexually transmitted diseases, or would like to be tested, call the Snohomish Health District at 425-339-5298 or call your medical clinic.

Reporter Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.