Baltimore jumps to #1 highest rate of STDs in US

A survey compiled from data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that Baltimore City has the highest STD rate in the country.Baltimore, which ranked No. 6 last year, jumped five spots to the No. 1 position, according to Innerbody.com.Per every 100,000 people, there were a reported 2,004 STD cases in Baltimore. There were 7,636 cases of chlamydia, 4,231 cases of gonorrhea, 207 cases of HIV and 210 cases of syphilis.According to the CDC, 2.4 million cases of STDs were reported in 2018. However, symptoms of STDs can be hard to detect, so that number does not reflect the total number of infections.Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr, Letitia Dzirasa says STDs are at the highest level seen nationwide in the past 20 years.Dzirasa released a statement saying, in part, “Those most affected by STIs include youth and young adults. In 2018, the most recent year for which data are available, those aged 15-24 years old represented 16% of the City’s population, yet accounted for 60% of chlamydia, 41% of gonorrhea, and 16% of syphilis cases. Due to economic, biological, social, and behavioral factors, STIs including HIV disproportionately affect racial/ethnic, sexual, and gender minorities."Free or low cost testing and treatment and PrEP, a pill that prevents HIV, are available at the Baltimore Health Department’s Sexual Health and Wellness and Family Planning Clinics. Clinic locations and hours can be found at health.baltimorecity.gov/our-std-clinics. Home STI and HIV testing kits can be ordered from www.Iwantthekit.org.Click here to read the whole survey.​

A survey compiled from data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that Baltimore City has the highest STD rate in the country.

Baltimore, which ranked No. 6 last year, jumped five spots to the No. 1 position, according to Innerbody.com.


Per every 100,000 people, there were a reported 2,004 STD cases in Baltimore. There were 7,636 cases of chlamydia, 4,231 cases of gonorrhea, 207 cases of HIV and 210 cases of syphilis.

According to the CDC, 2.4 million cases of STDs were reported in 2018. However, symptoms of STDs can be hard to detect, so that number does not reflect the total number of infections.

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr, Letitia Dzirasa says STDs are at the highest level seen nationwide in the past 20 years.

Dzirasa released a statement saying, in part, “Those most affected by STIs include youth and young adults. In 2018, the most recent year for which data are available, those aged 15-24 years old represented 16% of the City’s population, yet accounted for 60% of chlamydia, 41% of gonorrhea, and 16% of syphilis cases. Due to economic, biological, social, and behavioral factors, STIs including HIV disproportionately affect racial/ethnic, sexual, and gender minorities."

Free or low cost testing and treatment and PrEP, a pill that prevents HIV, are available at the Baltimore Health Department’s Sexual Health and Wellness and Family Planning Clinics. Clinic locations and hours can be found at health.baltimorecity.gov/our-std-clinics. Home STI and HIV testing kits can be ordered from www.Iwantthekit.org.

Click here to read the whole survey.