Huge rise in STI cases over past decade

Figures obtained by Scottish Conservatives show that between 1999 and 2009:

Cases of genital herpes in Scotland rose by 181%, from 933 to 2627.

Cases of genital chlamydia in Scotland rose by 222%, from 5,676 to 18,277.

Cases of gonorrhoea rose by 89%, from 538 to 1,021.

Between 1999 and 2010, cases of HIV rose by 130%, from 156 to 360.

Nanette Milne MSP, Scottish Conservative Public Health Spokesperson, said:

"These figures look at an entire decade and paint a hugely worrying picture of sexual health in Scotland. Although part of the increase will be down to more people getting themselves checked up, this will not account for anything like the majority of these figures.

"It is clear the approach adopted by successive governments in Scotland has not reversed the trend and that is why we need to focus much more on educating younger people about the consequences and symptoms of these diseases. Only by knowing what they are letting themselves in for can we hope to avert the problem.

"In 2009 the Scottish Government unveiled a new website, www.sexualhealthscotland.co.uk. Given that most of these figures only go up to 2009, we will see whether this website has had any effect when the next statistics are published. There is no doubt that the state of Scotland's sexual health is deteriorating rapidly and requires a fresh, bold and imaginative approach to turn things around. There is no time to lose."

For more information, please click on the link below

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/MAQASearch/QAndMSearch.aspx?referencenumber=S4W-01127&mspid=1845&isinanything=false&isinmotion=false&isinfmq=false&isinoralquestion=false&isinwrittenquestion=true&resultsperpage=10

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