STI rates up significantly in northern Ontario, says Algoma Public Health nurse

The rates ofsexually transmitted infections (STIs) are increasing at a dramatic rate innorthern Ontario and more people should begettingtested, an AlgomaPublic Health officialis warning.

Carolyn Kargiannakis, a public health nurse, told CBC News that for diseases such as gonorrhea, the number of infections have gone up by 270 per cent in the AlgomaDistrict since 2010. The rate for this infection is higher than the national average, according to the nurse.

Kargiannakisnoted new technology that allows people to usemobile applications to find sexual partners is playing a role in the findings.

• Health unit hopes online form leads to more STItesting

"The hook-up culture that often is traditionally only thought of with young people, we're seeing an increase in older adults, as well," she said.

Manypeople don't know they have anSTI so they don't get testedand unknowingly spread it to others, the nurse explained.

"There's always that perception that if you don't know, you don't have it, but we really encourage people to consider accessing testing as a normal part of their health care."

Kargiannakisremarked that even syphilis, which was once considered a very rare bacterial disease in northern Ontario, is also being seen in the area.

The nurse is encouraging people to go and get tested because manySTIs don't have symptoms and can have serious health implications if left untreated.