NWA Health Officials Raise Awareness for Rising STD Rates

by Sven Larson

Fayetteville, Ark.– In 2018, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced in 2017 people within the ages of 20-24 reported the most amount of cases of Chlamydia. This announcement is the most recent one by the CDC.

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States, and Arkansas ranks 11th in cases per 100,000 people.

“It affects everybody. It doesn’t matter what your race is, what your class is, what you know, who your parents are,” Dr. Joanne Brown said in an article from the Arkansas Traveler. “If you’re having sex, you’re at risk.”

Pat Walker Health Center does what they can to help students be aware of the dangers of STD’s as well as getting tested for them. They have a Get Yourself Tested clinic that operates on Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.