Missouri government approves STD treatment option

In an effort to treat more individuals who have contracted sexual transmitted diseases (STDs) without having to increase health clinic hours, Missouri officials have passed a new law that benefits these patients.

The legislation has approved the statewide use of expedited partner therapy (EPT), which allows physicians to provide prescriptions for various STDs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, to both patients and their partners, according to KCUR.org. By establishing this law, Missouri joins the two dozens states across the country that have already implemented this treatment option into their medical systems.

Government officials hope the passing of this legalisation will benefit Missouri residents who have tested positive for these infections and are unable to seek treatment, the news source reports. If left untreated, STDs can lead to a variety of severe health complications, including death.

While new legislation can help treat those who have already been diagnosed with STDs, both chlamydia and gonorrhea are still a rising concern in the U.S. In 2008, more than 1.2 million people were diagnosed with chlamydia, while approximately 700,000 individuals contract gonorrhea each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.