STD’s Rising in Florida, Hillsborough Hit Hard

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The latest report from the Florida Department of Health is out and the numbers aren’t encouraging. STDs are rising in Florida and Hillsborough County has been hit hard.

In 2003, over 42,000 cases of Chlamydia had been reported. That number by 2012 had jumped to 77,000.

Hillsborough County reported more than 7,100 cases, and Gonorrhea and Syphilis are up as well. During that span of 9 years, Hillsborough County cases more than doubled.

Dr. Jose De La Rocha, who works at the First Care walk-in clinic on Waters Avenue in Tampa says this is the worst he’s ever seen it.

“It’s the highest I’ve ever seen it, and I’ve been doing this for 22 years,” said De La Rocha via WTSP.

He says that the blame falls on the education of sex.

“I think education has a lot to do with it. Number one, I think the schools are not teaching it–especially the youngsters; and secondly the family dynamic has changed. I mean they are more sexually active,” said De La Rocha.

Health officials say the best prevention is education and avoiding sexual activity.