Hepatitis still a concern in the area
The number of cases of sexually-transmitted diseases has been skyrocketing in the United States. Since 2014, the rate for chlamydia has increased by 19 percent, gonorrhea has soared by 63 percent over that time, and syphilis has spiked by 71 percent. Unfortunately, that is a trend that is being seen on the local level as well. Laclede County Health Department Administrator, Charla Baker, provided the Board of Trustees with an update on the S-T-D rates in our county during Thursday night’s meeting. Baker told the board Laclede County had 16 confirmed cases of S-T-D’s last month…………
Baker says, from 2016 to 2017, gonorrhea increased by over two hundred percent. The increase from 2017 to 2018 was down to 39 percent………..
Hepatitis C has also seen a significant increase. In 2016 there were 21 confirmed cases in Laclede County, by 2019 that number was up to 36.
Baker also provided the board with an update on legislation that has been filed that could impact the department. Baker says one that is of particular concern is Senate Joint Resolution 44………..
Others are House Bills 1581, 2111, and 2380. Baker also made a request for the board to make a donation to another area health department…..
The board voted unanimously to donate two of their extra exam tables to the Dent County Health Department, provided that department pick them up. Board members also discussed CD renewals during Thursday night’s meeting.
