By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

The El Paso Department of Public Health (DPH) reports a significant increase in chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis cases from 2010 to 2018, prompting calls for residents to practice safer sex methods and test for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Image/CDC

A more than a 30% increase in chlamydia cases between 2010 and 2018, with 4,351 cases reported in 2010 and 5,699 in 2018. Statewide, there was a 26% increase.

Gonorrhea cases increased locally from 828 in 2010 to 1,137 in 2018. Syphilis has a disturbing trend with 33 cases recorded in El Paso in 2010, compared to 185 cases recorded in 2018, a 460% increase for the city compared to an increase of 120% for the state.

”These diseases were huge in the 1920s and ’30s and spiked during World War II. Now, one hundred years later, these diseases are making a comeback and it is important that our residents be aware of the signs and symptoms and practice prevention methods,” said Robert Resendes, Public Health Director.