Wicomico County health officials say it’s time to attack the growing rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea in the region.
The Salisbury Daily Times reports that the county has the highest rates of the sexually transmitted diseases in the state of Maryland.
Dr. James Cockey is the deputy health officer for the Wicomico County Health Department.
And he tells the paper that the goal is to get local leaders as well as parents and children to tackle the problem without dividing the community.
Last summer the county put together a task force with representatives from local universities, medical institutions and the school system to get a grip on the problem.
The group meets once every other month to consider trends and ways to get their message out to the community.
Of special interest are the STD rates that are highest among the young – that is from high school through those in their early 20’s.
