STD's rife in Pilbara

Rates of sexually transmitted infections in the Pilbara, Kimberley and Goldfields are up to 115 times higher than in Perth, new statistics reveal.

The rate of gonorrhoea in the Pilbara is nine times the WA rate and 13 times the national rate, while chlamydia rates are twice as high as the rest of the State and three times the national rate.

WA Country Health Pilbara public health physician Dr Heather Lyttle said the figures were disturbing and screening was a necessary tool in prevention.

“Even if people have unprotected sex and they have no symptoms, it’s still a good idea for them to have a screening,” she said.

“These days it’s a very simple urine test for gonorrhoea and chlamydia and they can find out the answer very quickly – within a week – and treatment is very straightforward as well.”

Dr Lyttle said rates of chlamydia and gonorrhoea had always been higher in the Pilbara compared with the rest of the State.

“The only thing that’s changed over time is that our rates of chlamydia have gradually increased,” she said.

“Because we have such high incidence we have to keep reminding our doctors to look for STIs,” she said.

A systematic screening for STIs is available in Hedland via the hospital emergency department.

“Although they might be fronting up to the emergency department for something else they can have that done at the same time,” Dr Lyttle said.