TriCounty Health Department is encouraging safer practices among the public. According to the announcement, in the past three months the Tri-County area has seen increases in local Sexually Transmitted Infection rates. Chlamydia has increased by 25 percent and Gonorrhea has doubled. The ways to avoid STIs include abstinence, vaccination, reducing the number of sex partners, mutual monogamy, and using condoms. The CDC reports that 1 in 5 people in the US have an STI and that 15 to 24 year olds account for almost half of all new infections. “STIs can have serious health consequences,” shares the CDC. “People with these infections do not always experience disease symptoms, but, if left untreated, some STIs can increase the risk of HIV infection, or can cause chronic pelvic pain, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and/or severe pregnancy and newborn complications.” TriCounty Health Department offers STI testing at both locations. Reach the Roosevelt office by calling 435-722-6300 and the Vernal office by calling 435-247-1177.
