Gonorrhea Outbreak in Walla Walla County

WALLA WALLA County—In a July 31 press release, the Washington State Department of Health declared Walla Walla County in outbreak status for both male and female gonorrhea cases. Washington Disease Reporting System data shows 27 cases in the county of the last three months as compared to only six cases during the same time period last year.

According to the release, Walla Walla County is currently the only county in Washington State having a gonorrhea outbreak. The county communicable disease unit is on high alert as an increase in syphilis often follows a gonorrhea outbreak.

Sexually transmitted diseases, especially drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea have been rising across the nation. In 2006, doctors had five ways to treat gonorrhea. Today, there is one remaining treatment option.

Diagnoses for sexually transmitted diseases reached an all-time high in 2017, which is the most recent year with available data. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) says that the steep and sustained increases in STDs during the last five years are troubling and have not been seen for over 20 years, according to the release.

The public health department encourages at-risk persons to be regularly tested for sexually transmitted diseases and to consistently use condoms. Gonorrhea bacterial normally infect the mucous membranes of the reproductive tract, but can also infect the mucous membranes of the eyes, throat, mouth and rectum. If left untreated, possible complications include sterility, joint infections, blindness and increased risk of acquiring other sexually transmitted diseases.