Cases of two STD’s increasing among young people in Illinois

Posted on April 16, 2016
McLean County Health Department
IDPH Director Nirav Shah said STD testing can be done at many county health departments. (Adam Studzinski/WJBC)

By Andy Dahn

BLOOMINGTON – April is STD Awareness Month and comes at a time when numerous sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise in Illinois.

Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health Nirav Shah said STD’s are an epidemic that many don’t talk about, but should.

“This year in Illinois, we did see a slight uptick in two STD’s,” Shah said.” Chlamydia and Syphilis increased. Although the trend has been that they’ve been on somewhat of a decline, we did see an uptick this year.”

Shah said the most disturbing part of the increase is that it’s primarily affecting young people.

“Between the ages of 15-24 as well as an increase in STD’s in men who have sex with men,” said Shah. “The real message here is that all of these are preventable. Our message is to use condoms, reduce the number of sexual partners you have and in some cases, to get vaccinated.”

Shah added that the only true way to be sure that you have an STD is to get tested, which can be done at many county health departments.

Andy Dahn can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…