Posts
Pulaski ranked fourth among Missouri
counties for STDs in 2011, according to a report the Health Department presented
to the County Commission on Monday.
This is an improvement from 2007,
when the county ranked third. The county reported 407 STD cases to the state
last year; state figures showed the county with 680 STD cases. The discrepancy
arose from the fact that not all county locations, such as Fort Leonard Wood,
are required to report STDs to the Pulaski County Health Department. Patty
McClendon, the department’s public health director, blamed the STD problem on
“risky behaviors” often linked to drugs and alcohol, and the lack of partner
notification.
Missouri does not require STD
patients to report all their sexual partners, and those infected may not
necessarily inform all their partners themselves.
The department offers STD and HIV
testing at minimal costs determined by a sliding scale; for more information,
telephone 573-736-2217.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
