Sexually Transmitted Infections make slow return in Carson City, rurals following reversal of COVID precautions
During the pandemic, while increases in COVID cases were often and sometimes substantial, there was a quiet decrease in something that could be considered just as harmful: sexually transmitted infections.
However, as the community has begun increasing social interactions again, so too have those STIs.
In Carson City, 2020 revealed a substantial dip in Chlamydia cases from the previous year, with almost a 100-case decrease from 265 to 188. However, that number began slowly creeping up again in 2021 to 206 cases, and in the first two quarters alone of 2022, 114 cases have been reported.
The numbers:
There were less than five reported cases of Syphilis in any of the counties throughout any reported year.
2016:
There were 24 reported cases of Gonorrhea in Carson City; in Douglas: 14; and Lyon: 17.
There were 296 reported cases of Chlamydia in Carson City; in Douglas: 82; and in Lyon: 136.
2018:
There were 83 reported cases of Gonorrhea in Carson City; in Douglas: 18; and in Lyon: 42.
There were 274 reported cases of Chlamydia in Carson City; in Douglas: 118; and in Lyon: 194.
2020:
There were 43 reported cases of Gonorrhea in Carson City; in Douglas: 26; and in Lyon: 67.
There were 188 reported cases of Chlamydia in Carson City; in Douglas: 81; and in Lyon: 175.
2021:
There were 52 reported cases of Gonorrhea in Carson City; in Douglas and Lyon (combined): 65.
There were 206 reported cases of Chlamydia in Carson City; and in Douglas and Lyon (combined): 282
2022:
So far, there have been 10 cases of Gonorrhea in Carson City; in Douglas and Lyon (combined): 19.
So far, there have been 114 cases of Chlamydia in Carson City; and in Douglas and Lyon (combined): 111.
“We don’t know for sure what it means, but it’s interesting when comparing it to Lyon County, which did not see the drops and actually saw doubling in one of those diagnoses categories,” said Dr. Lyons in 2020.
The Health and Human Services Report can be read in its entirety by clicking here.