ORLANDO – During Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD/STI) Awareness Month, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) encourages the community to take precautions and to be aware of the long-term health impacts of STDs.
According to the available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most common bacterial STDs in Florida. STDs have continued to increase in Orange County, Florida over the last five years. There were 17,253 total STD cases reported in 2021. Orange County’s total numbers for the four prior years were 14,049 (2020), 15,223 (2019), 14,3274 (2018) and 13,993 (2017).
Most STDs are easily diagnosed and treated, but they often have no symptoms and go undetected. When not found or treated, the disease continues to spread and can impact the health of others.
STDs are preventable. Anyone sexually active should talk to their partner and a doctor about risks factors, get tested, and if necessary, get treated to avoid additional health problems. For further information on testing or the program, you can contact the DOH-Orange STD program at 407-858-1445.
The STD Program works to control transmission through four major avenues:
- Education of at-risk persons on the modes of disease transmission and the means for reducing the risk of transmission by changing sexual behaviors
- Detection of infection in persons without symptoms, and those who are who are unlikely to seek diagnostic and treatment services.
- Diagnosis and treatment of persons who are infected.
- Evaluation, treatment, and counseling of sex partners of persons with a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD).
