Health Officials Worried by Increase of STIs in Calif.
Public health officials said they are concerned about increases in cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis in California. According to the data from the Department of Public Health, syphilis cases in the state increased by 18% from 2010 to 2011, while chlamydia cases increased by 5% and gonorrhea cases increased by 1.5% during that time. Heidi Bauer -- chief of the Sexually Transmitted Disease Control Branch for the department -- said that the increase in sexually transmitted infections might be the result of residents engaging in more risky sexual behaviors and becoming more complacent about practicing safe sex.
- "Rise in Syphilis Cases, Two Other STDs in California Spurs Concern" (Gorman, Los Angeles Times, 8/15).