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Georgia among the worst states for seniors contracting STDs, CDC says

ATLANTA — Georgia is one of the top states where senior citizens are contracting sexually transmitted diseases. The Atlanta-based Center for Disease Control and Prevention says the numbers are at record levels.

According to TheSeniorList.com, a new study released Thursday says senior STD infections have increased 131% in Georgia between 2008 and 2017.

Georgia is ranked 6th in the United States.

Older Americans are seeing the highest increases in these infections due to being far less likely than younger people to use condoms or take other precautions when having sex.

A recent study done by the CDC found these key findings in seniors between 2008 and 2017:

  • Increase in gonorrhea: Georgia - 68.8%
  • Increase in syphilis: Georgia - 152.6%
  • Increase in chlamydia: Georgia - 108.9%
  • Increase in STDs: Georgia - 131%
  • Increase in HIV: Georgia - 137.6%

Older adults have among the lowest prevalence of most STDs, but those diseases and infections have come roaring back in many states, and those 55 and older have largely seen the most dramatic increases in prevalence rates of any age group.

Information from WJBF-TV and the Senior List was used in this report