Gonorrhea cases nearly dipped in half, meanwhile, from 85 diagnoses in 1998 to 43 last year. State health officials aren't sure what is fueling those trends, but say the same patterns can be seen statewide. Across the board, chlamydia infections are up, gonorrhea cases are stable or decreasing. Both diseases are most common among teenagers, and can lead to infertility. Chlamydia is particularly dangerous, since its symptoms are not visible.
Treatment consists of a brief series of pills or an injection.
Dr. Susan Jones, who tracks sexually transmitted diseases for the Division of Health, said simpler testing procedures may have contributed to the rise in chlamydia diagnoses. We've had a gigantic spurt in chlamydia cases since those efforts began. Based on information received from the King Cove Police Department, police in Unalaska served search warrants on the fishing vessel Red Baron last Wednesday. An unspecified amount of money was found aboard the vessel, which led to the arrests of Lyle Newby and Susan Siler. King Cove Police Chief Gary Eilers said more charges are pending.