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clareecho.ie
Sep 28 2023
SPORT: GREAT DAY FOR THE PARISH
Rampant STI levels spark public appeal by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie
l Michael Guilfoyle and Shane O’Grady show their emotion at the final whistle as St Joseph’s Doora/
Barefield consolidate their senior hurling status
Photo by Joe Buckley
RECORD levels of chlamydia are likely to be recorded in the MidWest region by the end of 2023. Officials with Public Health HSE Mid-West are recording unprecedented levels of chlamydia and gonorrhoea this year. Members of the public in Clare are being urged to protect their sexual health and to avail of testing due to unprecedented levels of chlamydia and
gonorrhoea this year. According to the latest data, record levels of gonorrhoea are being reported in the Mid-West region. If current trends persist, record levels of chlamydia are likely to be recorded by the end of the year. In 2022, Public Health HSE Mid-West recorded the highest number of both chlamydia cases (798), and gonorrhoea (188) in the past ten years. Year-to-date in 2023, there have been 664 cases
of chlamydia, and 274 cases of gonorrhoea. Dr Kenneth Beatty, Specialist in Public Health Medicine, said, “The rising incidence of sexually transmitted infections in the MidWest is an issue of Public Health concern. For males and females, chlamydia and gonorrhoea can lead to painful inflammatory diseases, which can lead to infertility.” Full Story Page 12-13