Mississippi ranks at the top for chlamydia and gonorrhea infections when compared to other states, and teens and young adults between the ages of 15-29 years remain the leaders in new cases. Both of these diseases can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and increase the likelihood of HIV transmission. MSDH has met its goal to expand chlamydia and gonorrhea screening and treatment throughout the state beyond the federally-funded pilot sites that exist in high morbidity areas, and continues to test and treat individuals from high morbidity areas.
Chlamydia
In 2008, Mississippi reported 21,261 chlamydial infections and ranked #1 nationally in chlamydia. From 1999 through 2008, in Mississippi, the rate of reported chlamydial infection increased from 427.7 to 723.5 cases per 100,000 population.
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Gonorrhea
In 2008, Mississippi reported 7,497 cases of gonorrhea. From 2003-2007, the number of gonorrhea cases increased 31.4%, from 6,328 to 8,315 cases. Although there was a slight decrease in cases in 2008, Mississippi had the highest case rate of gonorrhea in the United States.
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Syphilis
Mississippi had a decline in primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis from 1997 through 2003, and since then, has had an increase in rates. Although P&S syphilis rates remained below the national average from 2002 through 2006, in 2008, MS ranked eighth nationally.
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HIV
Although Mississippi's HIV disease rate was slightly higher than the national estimated rate (from states with confidential name-based HIV infection) reported in 2007 (21.6 compared to 21.1 nationally), there has been little change in HIV disease trends over the past few years. There were 606 cases of HIV disease reported in 2008, a 1% decrease from 2007 (611).
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* Mississippi data is compared to 2008 national surveillance data.
Of all racial and ethnic groups in the United States, HIV and AIDS have hit African-Americans the hardest. According to data from the CDC, for 34 states during 2007:
- 42% of men living with HIV/AIDS were African-American
- 65% of women living with HIV/AIDS were African-American
During 2007, African-Americans made up 76% of new cases and comprised 73% of individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Mississippi.
