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Montgomery County is experiencing a rapid increase in cases of a sexually transmitted disease that is spreading across the nation.
Health officials are concerned about the impact of this STD on children, as cases continue to rise.
The ease of catching this STD is alarming to many, as unprotected individuals are contributing to its spread.
“I don’t know why people like passing diseases around, not using protection it’s just wrong,” Whitney Write of Dayton said.
“We are at a 30-year high for cases of syphilis,” said Becky Thomas, medical director of Public Health of Dayton and Montgomery County.
Write might think it’s wrong but it appears nationally people don’t care.
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Data from the Centers for Disease Control shows from 2017 until 2021 cases have gradually been increasing.
The same goes for Montgomery County, with 56 reported cases over the past five years compared to over 80 cases reported just this year.
Both men and women can contract and spread the STD, and pregnant women can pass it to their babies, leading to serious health issues.
“Hearing loss, vision loss, bony abnormalities and developmental delays,” Thomas highlighted as potential consequences.
For adults, the STD can be deadly if left untreated, affecting various organ systems such as the nervous and cardiac systems, emphasizing the importance of protection and regular testing.
