Sexually transmitted diseases increased in Utah County for the fifth year in a row, according to the Daily Herald.
Between 2011 and 2017, the average annual case count for chlamydia was 999 cases. Last year, the Utah County Health Department reported 1,257 chlamydia cases, surpassing the 1,203 flu cases reported for the year.
The county also saw 225 gonorrhea cases in 2018, up from a five-year average of 135.8 annual cases. HIV cases increased from a five-year average of 10.8 annual cases to 22 cases in 2018.
Health officials do not know why STD cases are increasing. Tracy Harding, RN, an epidemiology nurse at the Utah County Health Department, said some individuals may be unaware they have an infection if they are not experiencing symptoms.