Sex-disease cases soar in Utah County

PROVO — Reported cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea in the United States increased sharply in 2005, and ultraconservative Utah County was no exception.

Utah County saw more than a 50 percent jump from 2004 to 2005 in the number of cases of the two sexually transmitted diseases, according to a Utah Department of Health report.

The percentage increase is on par with the national average, but the state and county fare much better in the number of cases per 100,000 residents, said John Amadio, regional epidemiologist for the Utah Department of Health.

Utah's rate per 100,000 people is about half that of the nation, and Utah County cuts that rate in half again, said Amadio, who presented the findings of the report this week to the Utah County Board of Health.

"Comparatively speaking, Utah County is in pretty good shape," he said. "But when you've got (sexually transmitted diseases) all around you, it has a way of spreading."

The Utah County study was sparked by nurses at the county health department who work with patients infected with STDs. They noticed a sudden increase in cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea and were concerned that prevention efforts weren't working effectively, Amadio said.

The state's analysis found that the nurses were right: Utah County saw significant increases from 2004 to '05 in reported cases of chlamydia (from 225 to 421) and gonorrhea (from 41 to 60).

The report shows that chlamydia is the greater problem of the two in Utah County. As expected, nearly half of the cases are found in young adults ages 20-24.

The cases also were broken down by ethnic group. With a 92 percent white population in Utah County, it's not surprising that most of those with chlamydia were white.

The study also showed chlamydia to be a problem among Utah County Hispanics.

"The Hispanic population represents less than 10 percent of the (county's) population but almost 30 percent of the cases," Amadio said.

Health officials say more efficient and acceptable testing methods in recent years have made people more willing to be tested for STDs and as a result have led to more cases being reported.

But it's also a reflection of the number of people in the county who have the disease — many of whom likely don't know they have it, said Melissa Montoya, public health nurse with the Utah County Health Department.