Protect yourself: Gonorrhea outbreak
October 4, 2017
The State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services is warning residents
of a statewide outbreak of sexually transmitted gonococcal infection, commonly called
gonorrhea. Reported cases of gonorrhea increased 31 percent, from 1,115 in 2015 to
1,454 in 2016. Cases are continuing to increase in 2017. The majority of recent cases
are in individuals age 29 and younger.
Any sexually active person can get gonorrhea through unprotected vaginal, anal or
oral sex with an infected partner. In pregnant women with untreated gonorrhea, the
infection may spread to the eyes of their babies during childbirth. Symptoms in men
include a burning sensation when urinating; a white, yellow or green discharge from
the penis; and painful or swollen testicles. Symptoms in women include vaginal discharge,
burning when urinating and abdominal cramping. Rectal infection in both men and women
can cause discharge, itching and pain. Gonorrhea in the throat may cause a sore throat,
but this is uncommon, and most sore throats are not from gonorrhea. Some men and most
women with gonorrhea do not have any symptoms.
Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious health problems in both women and men, and can
include infertility and pregnancy complications. People with gonorrhea are also at
higher risk for contracting and spreading human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV.
Condoms are highly effective at preventing sexually transmitted diseases. Anyone who
has unprotected sex with a person who could be infected, or anyone who experiences
symptoms of gonorrhea, should visit a healthcare provider for regular testing and
get treated promptly if infected. Gonorrhea is curable with the right medication,
but controlling spread of the infection requires treating patients as well as identifying,
testing and treating all their recent sexual partners.
Contact the Student Health and Counseling Center in Fairbanks at 474-7043 if you have
questions or want to be tested. The testing is free. Students at UAF's community campuses
should contact their local health care provider or public health facility.