Middletown and Hamilton County health officials warn of STD 'epidemic'

Some Ohio counties like Middletown have experienced a notable uptick in the number of residents who are diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), according to a recent article published in the Middletown Journal.

Over the past 10 years, instances of chlamydia and hepatitis B and C in Hamilton County climbed 44 percent and 67 percent, respectively, the news provider reported.

Health officials said that addressing this high prevalence has not been a priority since many STDs can be cured with simple antibiotics, but they warned that this does not apply to all sexual infections, some of which can have serious consequences if left untreated.

"STDs are on the bottom line of communicable diseases. They won’t make a lot of people sick or kill people. But chlamydia - left untreated - can lead to infertility," said Middletown health commissioner Jackie Phillips, quoted by the news source.

However, in Middletown County the syphilis rate is nine times the national average, while that of gonorrhea and chlamydia are double and triple, respectively. Local health experts have deemed the trend a "mini-epidemic," the newspaper said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chlamydia is the most frequently diagnosed STD in the U.S.