Gonorrhea in Alaska Region X Gonorrhea Control Meeting Seattle, WA July 20, 2008 Alaska STD Program Section of Epidemiology Division of Public Health, DHSS

Gonorrhea long term trends – National and Alaska from 1970s – late 1990s:  Nationally, the gonorrhea case rate declined by 74% from 1975 –  Alaska’s gonorrhea case rate peaked in 1978 (1,310 cases per 100,000 persons) and decreased by 96% from that point to 1999 (49 cases per 100,000 persons).

Gonorrhea Infection Rates – Alaska and US,

Gonorrhea case rates by region – Alaska, Regional data

Gonorrhea case rates by Region – Alaska, Regional data

Summary of 2008 GC Data  Total of 578 GC case reports; rate=85 cases per 100,000  Highest GC Infection rates among: –Individuals aged –Alaska Native/American Indians –Blacks/African Americans  Increases among: –Alaska Native/American Indians –Asian/Pacific Islander males  Decreases among: –Blacks/African Americans (40% among males) –Whites –Asian/Pacific Islander females

GC cases by geographical region -- Alaska, Jan-Jun, Regional data

Proportion of Alaskan population v proportion of GC case reports by Region Regional data

Age x Sex

Gonorrhea cases by race and sex – Alaska, Jan-Jun

Program activities  Partner Services as an inter-agency team in Anchorage and throughout Alaska (GC is priority over CT for interviewing activity) (GC is priority over CT for interviewing activity)  STD data dissemination to professionals and public –Yearly bulletins to providers –Outbreak alerts to providers (*GC Outbreak pending) –Agency alerts on changes in testing levels/positivity rates –STD data reports/analysis on request  Capacity Building among Health Care Professionals –Annual STD Clinical Updates –FSTDI offered twice yearly (since 2003) –Technical Assistance on Clinical and Partner Service issues –Prompt feedback on appropriate GC treatment regimens

A few more things…  Playful financing to increase DIS team  Increase Field-based testing and treatment for quick dispositions  Encourage/support Section of Nursing to hire Health Program Associates as STD DIS