Dramatic fall in the region’s STD rates

CASES of chlamydia have dropped dramatically in Geelong, while rates of fellow sexually transmitted disease gonorrhoea are also on the decline.

There were just eight cases of chlamydia recorded in the City of Greater Geelong region between January 1 and April 10 this year, compared to 266 over the same period last year, according to new Vic Health data.

And there were 34 gonococcal infections recorded between January 1 and April 10, compared to 43 cases over the same period in 2018.

Barwon Health Department of Infectious Disease director Eugene Athan said the significant decreases could be attributed to better knowledge and access to treatment.

The data also revealed anaphylaxis cases have skyrocketed, with 15 cases recorded in Greater Geelong between January 1 and April 10, compared to zero in the same period the three previous years.

Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction, and can cause difficulty breathing.

Prof Athan said it was unclear what was causing the increase. There were nine cases recorded last year in Geelong.

Meanwhile, Prof Athan said contaminated eggs which were recently recalled could have contributed to a rise in salmonella, but this depended on strain types.

Geelong recorded 39 cases of salmonella between January 1 and April 10, up from 22 over the same period last year.

Consumers were recently warned not to eat eggs from Bridgewater Poultry Farm, including Southern Highland Organic Eggs due to potential contamination. Salmonella can cause fever and vomiting.

And just eight cases of whooping cough were recorded between January 1 and April 10, compared to 42 cases over the same period last year.

“An increased uptake of adult vaccines has also led to a drop in whooping cough,” Prof Athan said.