CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Recent data from the Tennessee Department of Health shows that Montgomery County has the highest sexually transmitted disease (STD) case rate in the state.

Dr. Carolyn Wester, Medical Director of HIV, STD and Viral Hepatitis for the Tennessee Department of Health, explained the origins of the data.

Wester said the report shows the number of cases, the case rate, and the number of cases per 100,000 people living in a particular jurisdiction.

“According to the 2016 health rankings in Tennessee, the burden of sexually transmitted infections on a county by county basis is basically ranked by chlamydial infections, so that’s one of many sexually transmitted diseases, but it’s used as a proxy for the others,” she said.

“In that report, of all the counties, Montgomery County actually has the highest or worst case rate of chlamydial infections.”

Dr. Wester talked about why the rate is so high in Montgomery County, saying the presence of Austin Peay State University and Fort Campbell increases the number of younger people, who are more frequently affected by STDs.

Wester added that Montgomery County has always had a very high case rate but in the 2016 rankings it edged out Shelby County (Memphis). That doesn’t mean it has the highest number of cases, but has the highest case rate per 100,000 people.

“An STD is an infection that can be bacterial or viral that’s transmitted from an infected person to another person through sexual contact,” Wester said.

The diseases, also referred to as STI’s, “I” for infection, in their order of most common to least common are chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. Other diseases that are in the community but not always reportable to public health are genital herpes, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and trichomoniasis.

The diseases are transmitted from an infected person during genital, oral or anal sexual contact. Some sexually transmitted infections can also be transmitted from an untreated mother to her baby during pregnancy or during childbirth.

The combination of a lack of awareness and a casual attitude toward STDs is common across the nation. Dr. Wester said many people feel they can be treated and think it’s not a big deal, but said the diseases are very serious and if they go unnoticed or untreated they can have serious side effects.

To learn more about STDs or other related health issues contact the Montgomery County Health Department, 330 Pageant Lane, at 931-648-7251 or go to the Tennessee Department of Health website at Tn.gov/health. You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter @TNDeptofHealth