State law requires that chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV be reported to either local health departments or the state health department. Recent increases in the first three diseases have made health officials concerned about a corresponding jump in the fourth.

"We're afraid that we're going to see the increase with HIV, as well," Lane said. "It's the same behavior that leads to all these diseases."

Utah health officials receive no state money for sexually transmitted disease prevention and control efforts. The state health department relies fully on federal funds and this year has requested approximately $480,000 in grant money from the CDC.

The Utah Department of Health will offer free chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV tests between April 16 and 20 at locations throughout the state. For information about specific locations, call 801-538-6171.

"We're trying to get facilities all the way from St. George through Logan, plus everybody in between," Lane said.

The Davis County Health Department is also planning a summit for local and state health officials, as well as community members, to determine how to best respond to the recent increases.

Officials also worry about increased cases of herpes and human papapillomavirus, or HPV. Reporting of the two diseases to health departments is not required, however, so they are more difficult to track with certainty, Lane said.

Utah lawmakers this year declined to pass a bill that would have given the state health department $1 million to educate and vaccinate women against HPV, which is known to cause cervical cancer and genital warts.

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E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com; awelling@desnews.com