Nevada leads nation in rate of gonorrhea

Friday, June 23, 2000 | 11:13 a.m.

Nevada led a nationwide surge in gonorrhea cases in 1998, but preliminary figures for 1999 show the number of cases of the sexually transmitted disease once again leveling off.

The entire nation jumped 9 percent in reported cases of gonorrhea in 1998, according to figures released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

In Nevada that year, however, the percentage of cases rose 74.5 percent, by far the highest increase in the country.

While Nevada's percentage jumped the highest, the state retained a relatively low rate in 1998, with only 10 cases of gonorrhea reported per 100,000 of population. Mississippi led the country in the rate category, with 391.5 cases per 100,000 people.

The 1998 surge, which is just now being reported because it takes the Centers for Disease Control two years to compile and analyze data on nationwide disease trends, surprised health officials.

Explanations of the surge focus on two areas -- better reporting of statistics by doctors and more confidence among sexually active people in new drugs coming onto the market that fight sexually transmitted diseases. Health officials say the new drugs may be giving people reason to abandon safe-sex practices.

Between 1985 and 1997 the gonorrhea rate nationwide had dropped 64.2 percent.

In Clark County in 1998, 1,215 cases of gonorrhea were reported, a jump from 696 cases in 1997, a 74 percent increase.

William Trejo, Clark County Health District program manager for sexually transmitted diseases, said Nevada's population surge affects such statistics. Southern Nevada is growing by about 50,000 people a year. He also noted that the sharp increases in tourism can also account for statistical jumps.

"We have a very strong program for combating sexually transmitted diseases here at the Health District," Trejo said.

With a population of 1.3 million people and more than 30 million tourists a year, health officials have to remain watchful, he said.

There has not been a sexually transmitted disease case reported in any of Nevada's brothels, legal in 15 counties, in the past seven years, Trejo said. Brothels are banned in Clark and Washoe counties.

"The most dangerous place for sexually transmitted diseases in Clark County is the street, from the (illegal) prostitutes," Trejo said.

The CDC said preliminary figures for 1999 are showing a decline from the surge in 1998. The Nevada State Health Division reported 537 total cases in 1999, which represent a decrease from 1998 of 678 cases.

Gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. The disease is caused by bacteria that inflame glands. The most common symptoms are a discharge from the vagina or penis and extremely painful or difficult urination.

Gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammation and infertility in women and can also spread the AIDS virus.

The CDC speculates that safe-sex practices adopted after the AIDS epidemic are being dropped because of better drugs against the virus.

"There does seem to be some real increases in the overall number of gonorrhea cases due to unsafe sexual behavior," Debra Mosure, a CDC epidemiologist, said.

The analysis of the 1998 gonorrhea figures show that the Northeast was the only region showing a decline -- 0.8 percent. Maine led the way that year with the lowest number of reported cases at 5.4 per 100,000 people.