Chlamydia
In 2006, 1,030,911 chlamydial infections were reported to the CDC from 50 states and the District of Columbia. This is the first time reported cases of chlamydia have exceeded 1 million. From 1997 through 2006, in Mississippi, the rate of reported chlamydial infection increased from 372.6 to 652.8 cases per 100,000 population. In 2006, Mississippi ranked #2 nationally in chlamydia.
Gonorrhea
In 2006, Mississippi reported 7510 cases of gonorrhea. Although Mississippi's case rate has remained above the national average, the rate of reported gonorrhea infection decreased from 348.0 in 1997 to 258.0 cases per 100,000 population in 2006, ranking #1 nationally.
Syphilis
From 1997-2001, Mississippi's rate of reported primary & secondary syphilis was higher than the national average. Since then, Mississippi has maintained a rate that is below the U.S. rate. There has been a slight decline since 2005, when the case rate doubled from 1.6 to 3.0 cases per 100,000 population, ranking #15 nationally.
HIV
Although Mississippi's HIV disease rate was higher than the national rate in 2006 (20.6 compared to 18.5 nationally), there has been a decline in the rate from 25.0 in 1997 to 20.6 per 100,000 population in 2006.
Of all racial and ethnic groups in the United States, HIV and AIDS have hit African-Americans the hardest. According to data from the CDC, for 33 states during 2005:
- 41% of men living with HIV/AIDS were African-American
- 64% of women living with HIV/AIDS were African-American
During 2006, 71% of new cases of HIV/AIDS in Mississippi were among African-Americans.
Mississippi ranks at the top for chlamydia and gonorrhea infections when compared to other states, and teens and young adults between the ages of 15-29 years remain the leaders in new cases. Both of these diseases can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and increase the likelihood of HIV transmission. We have met our goal to expand chlamydia and gonorrhea screening and treatment throughout the state beyond the federally-funded pilot sites that exist in high morbidity areas and will continue to test and treat individuals from high morbidity areas.
