CDC: Sexually transmitted diseases at record high

More than 2 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were reported in the U.S. in 2016, a record high, according to the latest annual report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chlamydia cases grew 4.7% to nearly 1.6 million; gonorrhea cases grew 18.5% to more than 468,000; and primary and secondary syphilis cases grew 17.6% to nearly 28,000, including a 28% increase among newborns. “Every baby born with syphilis represents a tragic systems failure,” said Gail Bolan, director of CDC’s Division of STD Prevention. “All it takes is a simple STD test and antibiotic treatment to prevent this enormous heartache and help assure a healthy start for the next generation of Americans.”