Health officials dealing with an outbreak of STI cases
Posted February 15, 2019 3:06 pm.
Last Updated February 15, 2019 5:04 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Health officials in Alberta are alarmed over an apparent spike in STI rates in the province.
According to Alberta Health Services (AHS), Syphilis rates have more than doubled compared to 2018.
There were also more than 5,000 cases of Gonorrhoea in Alberta last year.
Provincial Medical Director for STI Services, Dr. Petra Smyczek, explains where many of the cases are coming from.
“We are seeing STI cases in all parts of the province but Edmonton has the majority of them.”
READ MORE: STI cases on the rise in Canada; social media one possible reason
Smyczek said the bulk of the cases are being seen among young heterosexual Albertans.
“It’s very difficult to talk about a specific reason and there’s probably not one reason but many different things probably contribute to this outbreak.”
She says that cases haven’t been this high since the 1980s.
AHS is asking people to take responsibility, get tested, and use protection if they are sexually active.
