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No Comments [ Add Comment ]Communicable diseases down in Davis County
FARMINGTON -- Sexually transmitted diseases, West Nile and cryptosporidium rates for Davis County are all down in 2008, according to a communicable disease report prepared by a Davis Health official.
However, it is still to early to declare that chlamydia rates are trending downward, health officials say. They want to see another year of reduced reports before making such a claim.
The county's communicable disease report was shared this week with the Board of Health in a Power Point presentation.
After peaking in 2006, reported chlamydia cases per 100,000 population dropped for a second consecutive year, going from 182 cases in 2007 to 152 cases in 2008, Davis County Health epidemiologist Brian Hatch said.
The high of 191 cases per 100,000 population was reported in 2006.
The county has a population of about 280,000 residents.
"It is too early to say trend," County Health Director Lewis Garrett said of the reduction in chlamydia cases. "But we are encouraged to see those numbers coming down."
The gonorrhea rate in the county also dropped significantly, going from 18.1 cases reported per 100,000 population in 2007 to a projected 7.9 cases per 100,000 population in 2008.
Gonorrhea cases peaked in 2005 with 21 cases per 100,000 population.
Garrett said health officials do view the drop in gonorrhea cases as a downward trend where it involves a three year decline.
Trying to explain why sexually transmitted diseases being reported in the county are on the decline, Garrett said, is "always hazardous."
The decline in chlamydia and gonorrhea rates does correspond with public health campaigns and intervention measures that have been stepped up in finding those exposed to the disease, Garrett said.
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