By Leah Murray

Cases of gonorrhea on the rise in southern Alberta

Jun 13, 2018 | 11:20 AM

MEDICINE HAT – Alberta Health Services is warning about an apparent spike in cases of sexually transmitted diseases in the South Zone.

Between January and March of 2018, 11 cases of gonorrhea were documented in the zone, which stretches from Medicine Hat to Lethbridge. That’s two more cases than were reported in all of 2017.

AHS said three more new cases of gonorrhea were also identified.

“It is not unusual for individuals who have a sexually-transmitted infection (STI) to have more than one STI at the same time,” said AHS in a news release.

HERE'S WHAT TO KNOW

Summer pool hours extended and discounts applied as Big Marble Go Centre upgrades start

Apr 18, 2024

Medicine Hat company drawing in clients with witty signage

Apr 16, 2024

Medicine Hat College holding event for missing and murdered Indigenous women awareness day

Apr 16, 2024

The numbers are a big concern to health officials. Dr. Vivien Suttorp said often times people can spread the infections without knowing, because they may not have any symptoms.

“Some of the STIs like Chlamydia, up to 90 per cent of people do not have symptoms. For gonorrhea up to 40 per cent of people don’t have symptoms,” she explained. “[It] is quite concerning because people will have on-going sexual interactions, possibly with multiple partners, and then you have more individuals where this is being spread.”

AHS says STIs are also sometimes referred to as STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). They are caused by a bacteria, virus, or parasite passed from one person to another through unprotected sexual contact.

One of the big concerns for the spread of STIs is social media.

“New social media tools enable people to communicate quickly to arrange anonymous sexual encounters, resulting in increased difficulty in tracking STIs,” said health officials.

“When people don’t know their sexual partners’ identities, it makes it difficult to contact partners for follow-up testing and treatment.”

If left untreated, STIs can have lasting effects on your health and fertility. AHS says even without symptoms, people should always see their doctor or sexual health service if they may have been exposed to an STI. You can also call Health Link at 811.

For additional information about STIs click here.