U.S. Gonorrhea Rate Drops; Chlamydia, Syphilis Up

With gonorrhea rates down to an all-time low, chlamydia has become the top reported STD in the U.S., the CDC's annual STD report shows.

About 2.8 million Americans get chlamydia each year, the CDC estimates. That's why the national health agency considers the 19% increase in reported cases since 2006 to be good news: It means more people are getting tested.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.


• It is the most frequent bacterial STI in the United States, with more than 1 million reported cases and an estimated 2 million unreported cases per year.


Researchers question axing of chlamydia program

Australian researchers who are monitoring the relentless rise of Australia's most common notifiable infection are dismayed that the Federal Government has withdrawn their funding.

The incidence of chlamydia has increased four-fold in the past decade and a network of clinics has been trying to find out who is the most affected.

The Federal Government says the project was not intended to be permanent and its results will be used to develop a new system of monitoring chlamydia.

There are tens of thousands of new chlamydia cases reported in Australia every year. It is the most common cause of preventable infertility in Australia.

Screening leads to rise in rates of chlamydia

Rates of chlamydia are high among young men in south Scotland due to screening efforts, health experts believe.

Official figures show Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders have the highest level of positive tests among under-25s.

A total of 18% of those being checked were found to have the sexually transmitted infection.

Sexual health co-ordinator Fiona Gleghorn said the figures had to be taken in context.