Grant County health officer reports gonorrhea outbreak

Grant County Health Officer, Dr. Alexander Brzezny, has declared a gonorrhea outbreak due to the sharp increase this year in the number of gonorrhea cases in Grant County. Public Health nurses are working closely with the Washington State Department of Health and health care providers to increase testing, reporting and treatment for gonorrhea. Testing and treating more people will curtail the spread of the disease.

Gonorrhea is a treatable, sexually transmitted disease (STD) that rarely has symptoms in its early stages, especially in women. It can be found through a simple urine test and is treated with inexpensive antibiotics. Because it has so few symptoms, testing is extremely important.

Reported cases often represent only a fraction of all cases. Therefore, the Grant County Health Officer is asking health care providers to increase their screening of sexually active patients for gonorrhea and other sexually transmitted diseases. The epicenter of the outbreak is Moses Lake. The population showing the highest rates are young females 20-29 years old. However, the testing should not be limited to just that age group, gender and location, because the rates are high in all communities. It is essential that not only the patients but also their partners receive treatment.

Gonorrhea is one of several common STDs and is spread when a person has unprotected sex with someone who has the disease. If untreated, gonorrhea can spread to other parts of the body. Complications, if left untreated, can lead to infertility.

The 2013 Grant County gonorrhea rate was 35.9 per 100,000, compared to the statewide rate of 63.8. From January 1 through November 24, 2014, the Grant County gonorrhea rate rose to 77.5, a 118 percent increase.

Sexually active people with symptoms should stop having sex and see a doctor immediately. Also, anyone with a sexual partner recently diagnosed with an STD should see their doctor for testing and treatment.

Gonorrhea is one of several diseases reportable to the Health District by health care providers. Public health nurses work closely with the health care community to ensure that patients are given the recommended treatment and that their sexual partners are contacted and encouraged to be tested and treated. Grant County Health District will continue to monitor this and many other STDs. The community can do its part to control the spread of STDs by practicing safer sex and seeing their doctor to be tested.