Louisiana Ranks No. 1 in Country for Chlamydia Cases, According to New Report

According to recent data from the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Louisiana ranks first in the country for the number of cases of chlamydia.

Now, do keep in mind that this information is from 2022. But it is an uptick from 2021 when the state was 3rd in the country.

BY THE NUMBERS

LDH says there were a total of 36,200 cases of chlamydia reported in 2022. Nationwide, there were a total of 1,649,716 cases reported nationwide, making it the most common sexually transmitted infection that year.

“These germs are what we call endemic in our communities; they are present all the time,” said Dr. John Vanchiere, an infectious disease specialist at LSU Health Shreveport. “Very frequently it has no symptoms. And that is one of the hard, difficult parts of treating and controlling sexually transmitted infections.”

In 2022, the chlamydia case rate in Louisiana was 46% higher than the national case rate of 495 per 100,000 people.

THE WORST IN LOUISIANA

The Baton Rouge area got the worst marks in the state. In 2022, that region registered a whopping 950.1 cases per 100,000 residents. That's nearly double the national rate.

WHAT IS CHLAMYDIA?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines the disease as follows:

Chlamydia is a common STD that can cause infection among both men and women. It can cause permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system. This can make it difficult or impossible to get pregnant later. Chlamydia can also cause a potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy that occurs outside the womb).

HOW IS IT SPREAD?

According to the CDC, you can get chlamydia by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has chlamydia. And a pregnant person with chlamydia can give the infection to their baby during childbirth.

IS THERE A CURE FOR CHLAMYDIA?

With the right treatment, the simple answer is "yes." The CDC says that it is important to take all the medicine your healthcare provider gives you to cure your infection.

When taken properly, the medicine will stop the infection and could decrease your chances of having problems later. While medicine will stop the infection, it will not undo any permanent damage caused by the disease.

A FINAL WORD FROM LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

In a Facebook post, LDH said: "Usually, it's great to be #1. But not this time. Let's work together to get healthier and lower these cases!"

The CDC has a detailed fact sheet on chlamydia and you can read it here.