GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) – The state report detailing the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) at a county level shows some shocking findings in the east.
Across the east, chlamydia seems to be a growing problem. Pitt County ranked fourth-worst in the state in 2014 for cases of chlamydia, with 918.7 cases per 100,000 people. To compare, that same population sample yielded 677.1 cases in Lenoir County, 270.3 cases in Carteret County, 614.3 cases in Craven County, and 663.2 cases in Onslow County.
Pitt County was so bad in this category that it nearly doubled Wake County’s total (456.2 cases per 100,000 people), and was well ahead of Durham County (733.2 cases per 100,000) and Mecklenburg County (685.2 cases per 100,000).
Edgecombe County was second worst in the state, with 1,014 cases per 100,000 people.
“We have a young population that perhaps even is not aware of what their risks are or maybe hasn’t had the education, or just don’t take it seriously,” said Kimberly Hardy with the Pitt County Health Department.
Hardy said another shocking figure is the prevalence of new syphilis diagnosis since 2010. Lenoir (22.1) and Pitt (17.2) County ranked worst and third worst in the state for number of new cases per 100,000 people.
HIV cases in Pitt County have also increased by 31 percent since 2010, with 38 new cases in 2014 alone.
Hardy said the growing problem has multiple causes. However, she credits the emergence of dating apps like Tinder and Grindr for increasing high risk activity.
“One of the biggest impacts of that is men who have sex with men, and the social media outlet that they’re using to meet,” she said.
The Pitt County Health Department is trying to tackle the growing problem by offering STD tests, handing out free condoms, and having traveling clinics throughout the county.
However, Hardy said the problem also needs to be addressed in the home and community meeting places, such as churches.
For more information and to see how your county matches up, click here.