A study in a recent issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), summarizes the national surveillance data on gonorrhea cases reported to the CDC through state health departments in 1998, as well as changes in gonorrhea rates since 1996.

In 1998, 335,131 gonorrhea cases were reported to the CDC compared with 325,861 cases in 1997, a 9% increase. The gonorrhea rate, defined as cases per 100,000 population, rose from 122 in 1997 to 133 in 1998. In 1998, the gonorrhea rate in 22 states was above the national health objective for the year 2000 of 100 cases per 100,000 population.

Findings

Regional Data

• From 1997 to 1998, the gonorrhea rate increased by 16% in the Midwest, 9% in the South, 7% in the West, and 0.8% in the Northeast.

State Data

• From 1996 to 1998, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, North Dakota, and Texas reported increased gonorrhea rates greater than 10%.

• Alaska, Arkansas, Kentucky, Maryland, and New Hampshire reported decreases in gonorrhea rates from 1996 to 1998. However, three of these states reported an increase in gonorrhea rates in certain populations. Specifically, the gonorrhea rate among men who have sex with men increased in Alaska and New Hampshire and the gonorrhea rate among drug users increased in Arkansas.

Gender

• From 1997 to 1998, the gonorrhea rate increased 11% among women and 7% among men. In 1998, the gonorrhea rate among young women, aged 15 to 19, and young men, aged 20 to 24, increased by 11%.

Ethnicity

• From 1997 to 1998, gonorrhea rates increased among Asian/Pacific Islanders (20%), Alaskan Natives (17%), Native Americans (17%), Hispanics (16%), African-Americans (14%), and Non-Hispanic whites (11%).

The increase in the reported gonorrhea rate in 1998 followed an overall decline of 64% from 1985 to 1997. The authors suggest that changes in gonorrhea screening and surveillance practices may have contributed to the higher reported rates, however, reports from states suggest that true increases in gonorrhea cases also occurred in some populations. Preliminary data from 1999 suggests that the gonorrhea rate is again in decline, however, the overall number of gonorrhea cases remains high. The authors suggest that the increasing rates of gonorrhea in some populations in 1998 should efforts to prevent this disease.

For more information:

"Gonorrhea-United States, 1998" Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, June 23, 2000, vol. 49, no. 24, pp. 538-42.