New Public Health recommendations make a syphilis test routine for women 45 and under

November 28, 2022.Reading time 8 minutes.

Small, clear test tube marked "Syphilis - Test"

There has been a nearly 5-fold increase in syphilis in cisgender women since 2015 (cisgender means one’s gender identity corresponds to one’s sex assigned at birth). All sexually active women 45 and under in Washington state who have not had a syphilis test since January 2021 are being advised to test for syphilis.

6 Things You Don’t Know (But Should) about STIs

February 20, 2020.Reading time 15 minutes.

This blog comes to us courtesy of its author, McKenna Princing, and was originally published on Right as Rain by UW Medicine. QUICK READ | Demystifying sexually transmitted infections -STIS are on the rise in the United States.-Many STIs don’t cause symptoms.-STIs can infect someone’s throat, not just their genitals.-Some STIs, especially gonorrhea, are becoming […]

A tour of Public Health in action: LIVE from Public Health Week

April 6, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

What are the many ways Public Health touches your life? For Public Health Week, we took to the streets to learn how public health professionals are working to promote health across King County. From restaurant inspectors to school-based health providers to STD experts, our staff went live on Facebook to show us how they get […]

Possible rare case of transmission of HIV resistant to Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) medication

March 12, 2018.Reading time 17 minutes.

HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis, better known as PrEP, has changed the lives of many people around the world by providing a way for people who are HIV negative to decrease their risk of acquiring HIV infection. Hundreds of thousands of people globally are currently taking PrEP, including over 6500 people in King County alone. To date, […]

Antibiotic resistant gonorrhea found in King County

November 6, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern in the healthcare community. Antibiotic resistance is said to have occurred when an antibiotic loses its ability to effectively kill bacteria. The bacteria are “resistant” meaning that they continue to multiply, and the infected person is not cured. Public Health – Seattle & King County’s STD Clinic Director, Dr. […]

More syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia in King County

October 11, 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are on the rise across the U.S. and Washington and King County data show a similar trend towards more syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. Bottom line: We need to rein in what’s looking like an explosion of preventable, sexually transmitted disease. We need more surveillance to find STD cases, more awareness among […]