State health officials are worried as the number of Montanans diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease continues to rise.
Montana’s gonorrhea numbers — expected to total 1,500 cases in 2019 — haven’t been this high in 40 years, according to the Department of Public Health and Human Services.
Dana Fejes, the state STD/HIV program manager, said infections like syphilis and chlamydia have also seen a surge. She said that’s despite access to free prevention supplies, information on safe sex and confidential screenings.