Fresno County Reports Highest Chlamydia Rates
The latest statistics from the Department of Health Care Services indicate that Fresno County has the highest rate of chlamydia in the state, despite initiatives to lower its rate of sexually transmitted infections, the Fresno Bee reports.
Almost 5,300 cases were reported in Fresno County in 2006, for a rate of about 581.9 cases per 100,000 people. In 2005, 4,900 cases of chlamydia were reported, translating to 545.2 cases per 100,000. The state average was 363.5 in 2006.
The county has topped the list for chlamydia every year since 2001, except in 2004 when Madera County had the highest number of cases, the Bee reports.
David Luchini, the county health department's communicable disease division manager, said Fresno County's large population of young people contributes to the high rate. "We also have a large population of females age 15-24, which have the highest risk of contracting sexually transmitted [infections]," he said.
Sacramento County ranks second and Kern County ranks third in chlamydia ratings based on the 2006 estimate (Montañez, Fresno Bee, 9/16).